Chennai Super Kings pacer Deepak Chahar dropped two catches inside the first five overs of Indian Premier League 2023 final against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium tonight. Chahar, who is otherwise considered as a safe fielder, erring in a big match, not once but twice, has it in it to cost his team in the long run.
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With CSK captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni winning the toss and opting to bowl first primarily due to a slight rain forecast around, his new-ball bowlers including Chahar tried their best to justify his decision. However, poor fielding didn’t allow the visitors to gain any kind of advantage in the powerplay.
Deepak Chahar Drop Catch Video
It all first happened on the fourth delivery of the second over when GT opening batter Shubman Gill flicked a Tushar Deshpande delivery straight to Chahar at backward square leg. Deliberately placed there by Dhoni, Chahar missed one of the most easiest catches of his career.
In what was one of those patches for the 30-year old player, his misery wasn’t just restricted to dropping one catch. On the first ball of his third over, Chahar denied himself a wicket by handing an opportunity to Gill’s opening partner in Wriddhiman Saha.
With the right-handed batter hitting a slower back towards the left of the bowler, Chahar failed to grab the ball with one hand in what was a comparatively tougher opportunity.
Apart from faltering as a fielder, Chahar wasn’t able to put curbs around Gill and Saha on the back of leaking 31 runs in his three overs with the new ball.
Jadeja-Dhoni Combine To Dismiss Gill
Highest IPL 2023 run-scorer due to his outstanding form, Gill had started to race towards another match-winning knock before being found short of his crease by Dhoni.
Bowling his first over after the powerplay, a typical left-arm spinner’s ball was enough for Jadeja to deceive Gill on the outside edge. With his feet outside the crease, it was enough for Dhoni to dislodge the bails in a flash.
First wicket for Super Kings, it saw Gill walking back to the pavilion after scoring 39 (20) with the help of seven eye-catching fours at a strike rate of 195. First player to play his 250th IPL match, Dhoni managed to affect his 300th dismissal in all T20s with Gill’s wicket.
