RR vs PBKS: Yuzvendra Chahal declared most superior spinner in IPL 2024 by Harbhajan Singh

Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh feels that Rajasthan Royals wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is the spin bowler who is bowling like a spinner in IPL 2024. 

Yuzvendra Chahal has been on a wicket-taking spree this season on the back of his slow wrist spin. His performance in IPL 2024 is the sole reason why he was considered by the Men's selection committee for India's 15-man squad for the ICC T20 World Cup.

Chahal is the second wrist-spinning option in the team other than Delhi Capitals' Kuldeep Yadav. Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are the other 2 spin bowlers.    

What did Harbhajan Singh say about Yuzvendra Chahal? 

While speaking to Star Sports recently, Harbhajan Singh hailed Yuzvendra Chahal for remaining true to his bowling style. Harbhajan said this in the context of spin bowlers bowling faster than usual and not backing their strengths. We have seen many times that spinners often don't back themselves to bowl the balls that they have mastered. 

The likes of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja are prime examples of not giving enough flight and making the ball spin. But that's not the case with Yuzvendra Chahal. As Harbhajan Singh observed, Chahal is giving flight to the ball and he is also utilizing his variations very well. 

Harbhajan, who has been an IPL winner with Mumbai Indians and CSK, further noted that there is a major difference between Yuzvendra Chahal and other spinners. The "Turbanator" stated that Chahal is the type of bowler who doesn't look to run away from the challenge as he always looks to pick wickets regardless of how they come. 

"He is the only bowler, who's bowling like a spinner. I should say, spinner who is bowling like a spinner. Spinning the ball, he's got that flight, he's got that variation and he's using it very wisely. When I look at him bowling, and look at other spinners, there's a vast difference. You have to think that I'm going to get you out. That's what Yuzvendra Chahal is doing," Harbhajan Singh said via Star Sport. 

Harbhajan Singh says spinners not looking to take wickets will concede a lot of runs

Harbhajan Singh then stated that the narrative for spin bowlers has changed drastically and that they should not necessarily look to spin the ball. However, when it comes to a bowler like Yuzvendra Chahal and his RR teammate Ravi Ashwin, they are not shying away from relying on their true strength and their core ability.

Harbhajan stated that those looking to actually spin the ball are on the safer side of things. But the spin bowlers who are just rolling their arms over and not aiming to make the ball spin, are conceding plenty of runs. 

"Of course the narrative must have changed for few bowlers but someone like Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin - people who have proven they are bowling like spinners. They have done well. You see their performances and see the other spinners who are just rolling their arm and not looking to take wickets, they are going to go for runs," Harbhajan Singh concluded.