Indian pacer Deepak Chahar said that in the coming days it would be important for the team management to maintain the rhythm of the pacers through adequate game time and also keep them fresh for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at home from October 5. India’s last assignment before the World Cup at home will be a three-ODI series against Australia from September 22. After this, they will play World Cup warm-up matches against England (September 30) and the Netherlands (October 3). India will then start their World Cup campaign on October 8 against the Aussies in Chennai.
“I think both (playing time and rest) are important. Players need to get rest, but they also need to be able to play matches. Rhythm is important. It’s great for a player when he’s in a good rhythm and you have to keep going. We have these 2-3 matches where we can practice well. Australia is a good opponent for us and we will learn a lot. It’s about keeping them fresh and keeping their rhythm. It should be the management’s job call”, Chahar told ANI in an exclusive interview.
Chahar also praised speedster Mohammed Siraj for his record-breaking stint in the Asia Cup and added that the Indian pace attack, which is in good form, will boost Men in Blue’s chances at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
India clinched its eighth Asia Cup title on Sunday after Siraj’s spell of 6/21 in seven overs restricted Sri Lanka to 50 all out in just 15.2 overs, which India easily chased down in 6.1 overs.
“I was watching the match, I was at a training session. He bowled brilliantly. He has been bowling brilliantly since last year and that is why he is our number one bowler. We had not won a major tournament for a long time, so it is good that we have the Asia Cup won. It will give us a huge boost on the way to the World Cup,” said Chahar, who was at the launch event of his sports brand DNine.
Siraj finished the 2023 Asia Cup as the second-highest wicket-taker with 10, behind SL’s young sensation Matheesha Pathirana, who got 11 scalps.
Speaking about Jasprit Bumrah’s performance in the Asia Cup, Chahar said Bumrah looks in good rhythm and the fact that India’s bowling is in good form will boost its chances in the World Cup.
Bumrah notably picked up four scalps in four matches with an average of 17.75 and an economy rate of 4.17, best bowling figures of 2/30.
“In cricket we can’t control the wickets. It’s how you bowl. Sometimes you don’t bowl well but you get wickets but sometimes you just don’t even when you bowl well. I think Bumrah bowls well , he is in a good rhythm. We have good chances in the World Cup because our batting and bowling are doing very well,” Chahar said.
Speaking about India’s chances in the World Cup, the pacer said India has big chances and will have the home advantage.
“India has good chances in the tournament. We won last time when it was held in India. Players know the conditions and fields well and enjoy home advantage. I cannot predict the top four teams as all the teams are good” , Chahar said.
On what awaits him as he continues to work his way back to Team India from injuries during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, Chahar said: “I am fit now. Whatever tournaments I get to play, like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, I would try to do well in it. That’s all I can control as a player. We can’t decide anything else as players. My mentality is to do well every chance I get,” he concluded.
(This story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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