IPL 2023: “Deepak Chahar can surely bowl an over or two at the death.”- Sanjay Manjrekar

CSK team management will be pondering upon their team combination ahead of their first IPL 2023 game against the Gujarat Titans. Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar reckons new-ball specialist Deepak Chahar can give MS Dhoni an over or two at the death as well which can help in providing balance to the side.

Chennai Super Kings used to rely on their premium all-rounder Dwayne Bravo to bowl in the death for the last few seasons. However, Dwayne Bravo has announced his retirement from IPL, and hence death-bowling would be a major concern for CSK in IPL 2023.

“Initially, he was your new-ball bowler, and MS Dhoni made it clear that that’s how he’s going to use him. But if you’ve seen him, he’s a pretty seasoned bowler who’s gone through the domestic grind. In Chennai, they can manage with somebody like Deepak Chahar and Dwaine Pretorius, or use Maheesh Theekshana as well in the death,” Manjrekar said during a discussion on ESPNcricinfo.

“When you play at Wankhede and M.Chinnaswamy and those places, it is going to be a little tough, but Deepak Chahar can surely give MS Dhoni an over or two at the death,” the former Indian batter pointed about Deepak Chahar.

Death-bowling options for CSK in IPL 2023

CSK don’t have an outright death bowler in their squad and hence they might try multiple options to understand which bowler can do the job effectively for them. Along with Deepak Chahar, Dwaine Pretorius, and Ben Stokes too can bowl an over or two in the death.

They have got two young overseas pacers in Matheesha Pathirana and Sisanda Magala. Pathirana, who’s got a slinging action can actually do well at the death if given consistent opportunities.

Pathirana played a couple of games for CSK in the previous edition and might get a few games in IPL 2023 as well. However, the Sri Lankan pacer is not available for the first couple of games as he’s part of the Sri Lankan squad for the series against New Zealand.

In Chennai conditions, CSK might try their spinners Mitchell Santner and Maheesh Theekshana to bowl a couple of overs at the death. Both of them have the experience of bowling at the death for their respective national sides.