“Are You Seeking Gaikwad More Than Dhoni?”: How Deepak Chahar Handled Gavaskar’s Cunning Captaincy Change Inquiry

In the current Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat the Gujarat Titans on Tuesday to extend their winning streak to two games. With their all-around performance, the reigning champions defeated GT by the largest margin of runs in the history of the competition.

The Super Kimgs, chosen to bat first, amassed an enormous 207 runs, headed by Shivam Dube’s scorching fifty, which followed a sterling opening pair between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra. Subsequently, Deepak Chahar, Mustafizur Rahman, and Tushar Deshpande, the bowling trio, went amok, taking two wickets each to absolutely destroy the Titans.

Following the resounding victory, Chahar chatted with former India captain Sunil Gavaskar on Jio Cinema, going over a number of topics related to Tuesday night’s CSK vs. GT match in Chepauk. The right-arm quick shared some insight into his bowling style, stating that he is used to bowling three overs during the Powerplay.

Chahar said to Gavaskar, “Since I’ve been playing, I’ve been bowling three overs in the powerplay. I’m used to it, just trying to bowl as well as I can with the new rules around.”

In the IPL 2024, a regulation change that was implemented earlier this year permits a bowler to pitch two bouncers in each over instead of just one. Regarding its benefit, Chahar said that the new setup prevents the hitter from predicting the bowler’s next move.

“Batteries were always prepared for a full-length ball if you bowled a bouncer in the first two to three balls, but this new rule allowing two bouncers in an over helps all the pacers,” said the player. There is usually bounce, although right now there isn’t much dew present. In these circumstances, the ball grabs and bounces,” he said.

Gavaskar went on to inquire about the effects of the leadership transition inside the CSK camp, as MS Dhoni left his position one day before to the start of the 2024 Indian Premier League, transferring accountability to Ruturaj Gaikwad.

When Chahar was bowling, Gavaskar questioned him about whether he was talking to Gaikwad rather than Dhoni these days. But the quick bowler handled the difficult subject with aplomb, saying, “I got to look at Ruturaj and Mahi (MSD) bhai—both of them these days (for instructions).” I can’t decide who I should see, Mahi Bhai or Ruturaj. Ruturaj is leading strongly, however.