Cricketer Deepak Chahar: Dhoni’s belief in me gave me the confidence to do well

It’s been two weeks since the IPL finals, but the family and friends of

Agra

lad

Deepak Chahar

are still celebrating the feat achieved by the cricketer in the tournament. After celebrating the victory of Chennai Super Kings with his teammates, Deepak took some time out to visit his family in Agra before heading to Bangalore to join India-A team for a fitness camp. While in his hometown, we caught up with the 25-year-old to talk about his experience of playing under Captain Cool MS Dhoni, how life has changed in the last few years, and the role of his father in his cricketing journey.

‘Years of hard work and struggle paid off this year’Talking about his IPL journey, Deepak says, “I did well in Ranji and other domestic tournaments and therefore, got selected to play in IPL in 2011. I wasn’t able to perform well in the tournament then, thanks to my injuries. Last year, I got selected to play for Rising Pune Supergiant, but never got a chance to play on the field. So this year, when I got selected for Chennai Super Kings, I made sure to utilise this opportunity. MS Dhoni’s belief in me gave me the confidence to perform well. I am happy that years of hard work and struggle finally paid off. It was a wonderful feeling to lift the trophy.”

Play time: Deepak with his dog at his home

‘Dhoni doesn’t let the younger cricketers feel that he is a senior’It was the second year Deepak played under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, which he thinks has helped him grow as a cricketer and as a human being. He says, “It is a lot of fun inside the dressing room where senior and junior players laugh together. Dhoni sir especially takes care of youngsters and always sits with us when senior players are sitting on the other table. He cracks jokes, makes fun of you and ensures that your morale is never low. He believes in young cricketers and this gives them the confidence to do better.”

‘After playing in IPL, life has changed for good’Deepak has been playing

cricket

for more than two decades but he says he got the recognition only after playing in the IPL. “I have played a lot of

first-class cricket

, but it is only after playing in IPL that my life has changed for good. Earlier, people knew me only within the cricket circle but now I have become popular among the masses as well,” he says.

Star player!

‘It was wonderful to shoot for my documentary near Taj Mahal’He said, “People of Agra got to know about me when they heard a guy from Agra is playing in IPL. In my city, I feel like a star these days. Before the tournament started, a sports channel made a documentary on my cousin Rahul, who is also a first-class cricketer, and I. We shot for it in Agra for four- five days. It was a wonderful experience to shoot the film near the Taj Mahal.”

‘My father has been the biggest support in my life’Ask Deepak who is the most important person in his life and he names his father Lokendra Chahar. “Whatever I am today, it is all because of my father. He is my biggest support, he has always stood by my side. He’s the one who introduced Rahul and I to the game and since then he has been working hard for us,” he said.

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