3 Reasons Why CSK Should Drop Deepak Chahar from Their Playing XI For The Remainder of IPL 2023

CSK pacer Deepak Chahar made a comeback in the CSK vs LSG game on May 3 after he got injured in the in the initial phase of IPL 2023. Deepak Chahar pulled his hamstring during the game against the Mumbai Indians on April 8 after which he couldn’t participate in the next 6 games for the Chennai Super Kings.

However, the experienced pacer never looked like in rhythm in his spell against the Lucknow Super Giants. He conceded 41 runs on a slowish Lucknow pitch and couldn’t take any wicket while all other CSK bowlers had made an impact on the game.

Deepak Chahar missed the entire IPL 2022 season and has found himself in and out of the national side in the recent past as well owing to multiple injuries. In the CSK vs LSG game, he looked like a shadow of his former past.

Here are the three reasons why CSK should drop Deepak Chahar from their playing XI for the remainder of IPL 2023:

1. He didn’t look in rhythm in his comeback game

Deepak Chahar did got the ball to swing a bit, but could not create the impact that he usually does with the new ball. He bowled three straight overs in his first spell, conceding 21 runs and remained wicketless.

The CSK pacer then came in to bowl the 19th over of CSK innings. The MS Dhoni-led side were in complete control over them game till then but young LSG batter Ayush Badoni went all guns blazing against him.

Badoni smashed a four and a couple of maximums and provided the kind of momentum his side badly needed. Chahar’s variations failed badly against the young batter as he looked completely out of rhythm.

2. Young CSK pacers have performed batter than him

In the absence of Deepak Chahar, CSK didn’t have any pacer with international experience. However, Matheesha Pathirana and Tushar Deshpande have performed exceedingly well for them in the last few games.

While Pathirana has bowled some stellar spells at the death, Deshpande too has been amongst the wickets. While Tushar has been a bit expensive, he is leading in the race of Purple Cap as he has already taken 17 wickets.

On the other hand, Akash Singh has done a pretty good job with the new ball and gives them a left-arm option as well. Rajvardhan Hangargekar too did well in the limited opportunities that h egot for the yellow army.

3. He does not have a good record on slow wickets

Deepak Chahar has just scalped a wicket in 4 games till now in IPL 2023 after conceding runs at an economy rate of 10.38. His best came during the IPL 2021 season on fresh quick Wankhede wickets where he got enough movement with the new ball.

The CSK pacer has just taken 10 wickets in 10 games at Chepauk at an economy rate of 8.65. With CSK still to a play a few games in Chennai, they might look for someone who can bowl well in those conditions.