Working Hard on my Fitness For Past 2-3 Months: Deepak Chahar Set to Make His Comeback With IPL 2023

India pacer Deepak Chahar has stated that he is working hard on his fitness in the last couple of months and is raring to make his comeback with the Indian Premier League beginning March 31. Injuries have been part and parcel of Chahar’s career so far as he missed several major matches last year including the T20 World Cup.

The CSK bowler had a tough time recovering from a stress fracture and more recently a quad grade 3 tear. He last played for India in the second ODI in Bangladesh where he broke down after bowling three overs.

He also missed the last season of IPL after sustaining a back injury, CSK missed his services after splashing INR 14 crore on him during the mega auction.

Having done an extensive rehab at the National Cricket Academy, Chahar is preparing for the IPL where he will represent the Chennai Super Kings.

“I working hard for the past two-three months on my fitness, I am fully fit and preparing well for the IPL,” Chahar told PTI.

“I had two big injures. One was stress fracture and one was quad grade 3 tear. They are both are very big injuries. You are out for months. Anyone who comes back after the injury it takes time, especially for the fast bowlers.

“If I was a batter I would be playing way back long but as a fast bowler, when you have a stress fracture, it is very tough to get back on track. You can see other bowlers struggling with the back as well.”

Chahar played a Ranji Trophy match last month against Services, however, back-to-back injuries have made his case a bit weaker for a place in the ODI World Cup squad at home later this year.

“I have lived by one rule all my life. If I am fully bowling the way I want, if I am batting the way I want, there is no stopping me. That was the basic rule with which I started my career.

“I don’t care who is playing, who is not playing , my motive is to get fully fit and perform with the ball and bat 100 per cent. If I do that, I will get my chances,” said Chahar who has also proved his value with the bat in his international career that began in 2018.

Since making his India debut in July 2018, he has managed to play in 13 ODIs and 24 T20s.

The men’s IPL will be preceded by the inaugural Women’s Premier League and Chahar could not be more excited for his female counterparts.

“IPL changed men’s cricket forever, people got a lot of opportunities. Same thing will happen with Women’s Premier League. Women’s cricket will grow very fast as they will face international players very early in their careers. It will also help a lot of women cricketers who have not been able to make money and will fuel competition,” said Chahar.

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