Deepak Chahar : Mining pacemen in a small Rajasthan district

[rkt.india]

“Pace sensationâ€, exclaimed one headline, the other called his spell “deadly†- Deepak Chahar’s inconceivable 8 for 10 may have made many a jaws drop, for who expected a rookie to cause such a riot. But ever since I met this young lad at the nets in Rajasthan, I knew something big was in the offing. I opened the innings on one such session, while Chahar along with Pankaj Singh took the new ball. This was my first net session after the off-season and my focus, as expected, was on the more experienced Pankaj. I approached his bowling with caution and paid little heed to the new kid on the block. But as it often happens with a batsman, the moment you drop your guard, you pay dearly. I closed the face of my bat a bit too soon to the first Chahar delivery, which swung away from me, top edge landing in the lap of the fielder at short covers. One ball is never enough to judge the quality of a bowler and hence I moved on. The Buchi Babu tournament in Chennai was Chahar’s next assignment, and that was when he caught my eye. What impressed me the most was his wrist position (upright and right behind the ball at all times), which allowed him to swing the ball appreciably in the air. But then don’t we produce more bowlers who can swing the ball than the ones who’re really quick? What separated Chahar from the rest of the crop was his ability to swing the ball both ways with very good control. Chahar could prove to be quite a nightmare for an opener, because it’s very easy to get caught up in his stock delivery, which is the one going away from him that you almost forget about the in-dipper. Something Ravi Teja from Hyderabad would vouch for. He got Chahar’s out-swing covered and started leaving the balls which were meant to be left alone, before he made the fatal error of misjudging by leaving the one which went the other way. He was caught plumb in front. But it isn’t just his ability to swing the ball or the control, which makes him an exciting prospect. It’s his attitude towards the game and the hunger to be in the thick of action that sets him apart. Picture this: In the first Buchi Babu game, we were in a tight spot towards the end with the opposition needing just four runs to win with one wicket in hand. The bigger issue being that there were plenty of overs left and the batsman on the non-striker end was batting on 150. One off-target ball was enough for the strike to be rotated and our defeat. We were rather sceptical of giving the ball to a youngster in that situation, not sure of how he would respond. But Chahar’s eagerness to bowl and his confidence to pull it off influenced the decision. He produced a perfect in-swinger to get rid of the last man and we won. What would hold Chahar in good stead in the future is the fire in his belly. He’s focussed and hard working, so much so that you literally have to prohibit him from practicing more. Probably he’s in a hurry to realise the dream his father dreamt for him, who gave up his job in the Air Force to dedicate his life in making his son’s dream come true. For now though, the boy wonder is enjoying his new found stardom -- “There are about 150 missed calls on my phone!†he quips. original link: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Fire-in-belly-will-keep-Chahar-going/Article1-621431.aspx

[Roshanrocks]

good start for his career... wish him all the best for the future

[Yantra]

How is his built, speed?

[Roshanrocks]

he got 4 wickets in the second innings :clap: lets c wot he does against better batting line ups

[rkt.india]

How is his built' date=' speed?[/quote'] he is well built, not very thin

[achilles]

Lets hope he plays for India in the next 5 years, after grinding it out in the domestic circuit..

[vvvslaxman]

I think he gets that swing going with his wrist position much like Praveen. But you are bound to lose a bit of pace when you strive of accuracy.

[Raghav_12]

How is his built' date=' speed?[/quote'] Should not be obsessed much with speed. If he has very good control at a decent speed, then it eould be okay enough.

[OriginalCopy]

No, he must be concerned with speed. We have dime a dozen trundlers at our disposal. Any so called quickies that start as such, become reincarnation of Venky Prasad. People got out to him most times not because of his skill, but because their eyes lit up seeing his slow crappy bowling and wanting to hit him out to Mars. In my opinion, our mindset needs to change. We should let bowlers (who can) bowl as fast as they can, and worry about the line and length later, rather than working the other way round.

[mastana]

Top IPL clubs zero in on Chahar

JAIPUR: On Monday, 18-year-old Rajasthan's Deepak Chahar created history by demolishing Hyderabad for just 21 on the opening day of their Ranji trophy opener. His spell of 8 for 10 and match figures of 12 for 64 grabbed the headlines across the nation. More importantly, for him, it diverted the attention of some of the major Indian Premier League (IPL) team owners. Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers and Sahara Pune Warriors have already began procedures to draft Chahar into their team for Season Four. "It was a pleasant surprise to get so many offers from so many IPL teams," Chahar told TOI.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/domestic-cricket/ranji-trophy/Top-IPL-clubs-zero-in-on-Chahar/articleshow/6868509.cms :wall: :wall:

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Deepak Chahar : Mining pacemen in a small Rajasthan district Teen sensation Deepak Chahar is busy giving interviews. Ironically though, I still have to read a copy that has travelled to his hometown, Hanumangarh, which has played a vital role in making him a prodigy. More... Mining pacemen in a small Rajasthan district Aakash Chopra, Hindustan Times November 08, 2010 Teen sensation Deepak Chahar is busy giving interviews. Ironically though, I still have to read a copy that has travelled to his hometown, Hanumangarh, which has played a vital role in making him a prodigy. What Sansarpur is to hockey, Hanumangarh is to fast bowling. This Rajasthan district has been producing fast bowlers by the dozen. Credit for this must go to Navendu Tyagi. Tyagi's passion compensates for the lack of infrastructure in a small district. He is a hard taskmaster and considers fitness a priority. He ensures his wards go through a rigorous cardio routine which, at times, includes going for a run at 2pm in scorching desert heat. He would accompany them either on foot or on his old bike. He also takes his pupils to a summer camp in Rishikesh. While the kids pay for their travelling expense, Tyagi takes care of everything else. They stay in a Dharamshala and their day starts at 5am with yoga. Then they run on the hills and follow it up with some strengthening exercises using their own body weight in the evening. Since a place with modern facilities is not financially feasible, a getaway to Rishikesh is the second best thing. His efforts have started bearing fruit, for most fast bowlers representing Rajasthan at various age group levels are coming from Hanumangarh. I am told that there was a time when 9 out of the playing XI in the district's team were fast bowlers. Obviously, it meant trouble. They would dismiss the other side for a paltry total, but would get out for an even lower total. The district got relegated twice. But clearly nobody seems to complaining.

[rkt.india]

Chahar hitches his wagon to a star For an 18-year old in his debut season of first-class cricket, Deepak Chahar is remarkably confident. He's taken 40 wickets in Rajasthan's maiden Ranji Trophy triumph, but that does not seem to be the cause of his self-belief. It seems to run much deeper, and is almost an innate part of his demeanour. He has come a long way after being rejected two years ago by Greg Chappell, the former India coach, at the Rajasthan Cricket Academy. "He told me that I could not play top-level cricket. Boys were being sent out of the academy on the grounds of fitness, and he must have felt that I was not fit enough," Chahar said. "It was good for me actually, and that was the moment from where my life changed. I haven't looked back in the last two years." His natural ability to swing the ball was showcased in his debut match, when he blew away Hyderabad for a record low of 21 with an eight-wicket haul. "I have bowled out a lot of teams cheaply, for 40 or 50, but against Hyderabad was too much. I will credit my father for developing my skills. He has been my coach since I started playing, about six-seven years ago. He used to play university cricket before he got a job in the Air Force." A lot of effort has gone into getting Chahar's wrist and seam position right. "From around 15 metres, I used to take a step or two and bowl between 300 and 500 deliveries to my father - just to get the seam position right, to get control of the wrists. People believe that you have to practice control while running in, but I think you have to start from standing up and bowling. If you can develop control then, it will also come when you are running in." Chahar can bowl outrageous inswingers, but his first season has taught him that a good outswinger will dismiss most batsmen, as Dale Steyn has consistently displayed at the highest level. "Earlier I used to bowl both outswing and inswing regularly, without any bias. But now, I have decided to focus a lot on outswing. I have also learnt to bowl on flat pitches." Having won the highest domestic prize in his first year, Chahar does not understand why it is perceived that there is a huge difference between first-class and age-group cricket. "Maybe first-class batsmen are able to keep out even good balls sometimes, unlike Under-19 batsmen. But I don't feel a lot of difference. Only those who are India players come across as really special, like Rohit Sharma. The others don't really dominate you, even if they are not getting out." While his swing has brought him into national spotlight, Chahar doesn't want to be slotted as a one-trick bowler. "If you are fast, you don't need favourable conditions. Guys like Shane Bond and Steyn have been able to swing it at 140-plus. I want to increase my speed by around 10 kph. If I can do that, the swing will be even more difficult to play. Right now, my average is around 128. I can bowl quicker, but the season has been long and hard, and my pace has gone down a bit due to the incessant travelling." Chahar has been home for only two days in the last seven months, and the grind has taken its toll on his young body. There have been constant niggles, and he bowled in the final with a tape around his bowling arm. He is icing the area even as we speak. "I hadn't worked much on my triceps earlier, as I did not want to build a lot of muscle in my arm. Maybe that is what is causing the problem. It is so important to rest as well as work hard in the gym. That is why for some time now, I have started using heavier weights." He's used to bowling long spells, though, and proudly cites one instance from last year's Under-19 tournament. "How long do you think a fast bowler can bowl at a stretch? I bowled a 22-over spell in Ratnagiri against Maharashtra last season. I was in good rhythm, and just kept on going." The initial success has brought with it the inevitable IPL contract, and he has been signed by Rajasthan Royals. He talks about developing his yorker for the shortest format. "I have to work on my yorker. The thing is, that delivery at my pace is not very effective. So there is another reason to increase my speed." We are watching the highlights of the final on television, and Chahar beams broadly whenever he sees one of his seven wickets. He took out Ambati Rayudu and Baroda captain Pinal Shah at crucial junctures in the first innings. "I have never seen Hrishi bhaiyya (Hrishikesh Kanitkar, his captain) get as angry as when I bowled a short one to Pinal. I had asked him at the start of the over whether I should bowl the bouncer, and he had told me no need, just pitch it up and you will get him. But I ran in and bowled the short delivery, which went for a boundary. Fortunately, next ball I got him, and was spared my captain's wrath." His new-ball partner and lead bowler, Pankaj Singh, has been a big help, and the pair has brought Rajasthan 83 victims in the season. "I have learnt a lot from Pankaj. He normally stands at mid-off or mid-on, and lets me know what type of delivery could work against which batsman." Chahar is ambitious and aspires to play for the country one day as an allrounder. "I have this dream of becoming an allrounder. Now I have come up to No 8, gaining promotion in the batting order. I just want to remain not out. I don't like to get dismissed. "You know, the dialogue from the movie Three Idiots, 'Don't run after success; strive for excellence'. The day I am able to swing the ball at good pace, I will hopefully play for India."

[urbestfriend]

Its sad that too much of workload in domestic cricket is taking a toll on these young bowlers and their pace goes down after a season. Happened with Mithun too.There is a need to cut down on number of matches and also domestic season can be much longer with more gaps between each matches which will do a world of good in preserving fast bowlers.

[cowboysfan]

looks like an honest young man who knows what it takes to suceed in the next level.the next season will be crucial as everybody knows him and will be watchful,hope e performs well and doesnt have a sophomore slump.

[hari504504]

Have high hopes for him every since I saw that debut... the likes of Unadkat and Umesh don't seem to cut it against this guy. Hope to see him in the national colours after a bit of a stint in the counties. (1-2 years down the line)

[kabira]

He has yet to go long way to be ready for international cricket. He does need to add couple of yards, start bowling at 133-135 range..and he swing will be more effective. He has great seam position and classic wrist positions. He shouldn't be complaining about too much cricket. Ask Kapil Devs, Courtney Walshes,...did they ever complain?? The fact is more you bowl, better you get.

[Sooda]

I dont think it is too much cricket as such, but poorly scheduled matches with very little breaks between games given the travelling. I remember Akash Chhopra writing about how hard it was to fit the various tournos into a year

[Holysmoke]

talks well.. lets see whether he can back that up. s

[Superman]

Best of luck to him.:two_thumbs_up:

[achilles]

Good work by the lad. See, Chappell did some good. :winky: