AB de Villiers Hails Yuzvendra Chahal As "One Of The Best Leg-Spinners Of All Time"

Former South Africa National Cricket Team captain AB de Villiers has showered rich praise on the India National Cricket Team leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. The Proteas great labeled Chahal as one of the best leg-spinners in the history of the game.

The 33-year-old Chahal is one of the most experienced leg spinners in India at the moment. Although he hasn’t had the opportunity to represent India in Test cricket, Chahal has been a highly impactful bowler in white-ball cricket.

Overall, Yuzvendra Chahal has represented the India National Cricket Team in 72 ODI matches and 80 T20I games and has picked up 121 and 96 wickets respectively.

In a video shared on his official YouTube channel, AB de Villiers stated that Chahal looks to attack and get breakthroughs even when the surface doesn’t provide any assistance to the spinners. He stated:

“Best bowlers always look at the positive side of the things and that’s why you’re one of the best leg spinners of all time, my friend. You’re always optimistic. You always love a challenge no matter how much a batter comes at you.

“I watch you in the IPL as well. The pitch in Rajasthan is good and sometimes it doesn’t turn. But you still look to attack and take wickets and that’s the positive attitude that makes great sportspersons.”

My confidence grew when I played in RCB at Chinnaswamy – Yuzvendra Chahal

Speaking in the same video, Chahal said that his confidence grew while playing at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He said:

“My confidence grew when I played in RCB at Chinnaswamy. When I did well there, wherever I went, I thought, ‘This ground is bigger than Chinnawswamy. So if I bowled well there, I can bowl well here too.’ I back my skills and don’t go away from my game. I just try to keep going for wickets.”

Yuzvendra Chahal further spoke about the importance of picking up wickets in the middle overs in ODI cricket. He stated:

“In ODIs, the batters can play out your first spell by trying to take singles. So I feel sometimes it is important to play with the batter’s mind. You need to pick wickets in middle overs with an extra fielder in. Sometimes you can bowl wider even if there’s no deep fielder. If you don’t pick wickets in the middle overs, the batting side will score 300-plus every single time.”

Yuzvendra Chahal was not part of India’s squad for the ICC World Cup 2023. However, he has returned to the ODI setup for the upcoming three-match series against South Africa.