This Series Is Very Important To Me: Yuzvendra Chahal

Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has said that we will ‘see a more confident Yuzi’ during the upcoming ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka, starting July 13.

Once a key member of the Indian white-ball squads, Yuzvendra Chahal has ensured a significant dip in his fortunes since the last 50-over World Cup.

Not only in ODIs, but Chahal has also struggled to make an impact even in the shortest format of the game in the last 18 months.

Since the start of August 2019, the Haryana leg-spinner has managed just 8 wickets in 5 ODI games at 37.12. As far as T20Is are concerned, Chahal has claimed just 16 wickets in 17 outings at an average of 37.68.

Chahal was dropped from the last two T20Is and the entire ODI series against England earlier this year, a reflection of the team management’s dwindling confidence in him.

However, the 30-year-old has shrugged off the talks regarding his poor form as he said that the team management has communicated their faith in his abilities to him.

“My performance – I don’t think it was a dip [in form] or anything. You can’t perform in every match. I will try my level best. This series is very important to me,” said Yuzvendra Chahal as quoted by Cricinfo.

“I keep having conversations with the bowling coach. They [management] have given us confidence, and that’s why I’m here. If it wasn’t there, no one in the team [would be here]. My main focus at the moment is just this series – there’s been lesser cricket over the last year, but that’s not in our hands. Whatever series happens, we want to perform. After this series, my focus will be on the IPL, and only then the [T20] World Cup. Right now, I’m focusing on this tour only.” he added.

‘I just focus on how to get batters out’- Yuzvendra Chahal 

Yuzvendra Chahal last played an ODI in November 2020 against Australia and since then he has largely played T20 cricket for his domestic and IPL teams.

But the leg-spinner said that head coach Rahul Dravid has reminded him that he will play the role of a senior spinner during the white-ball assignments In Sri Lanka.

“I’m playing an ODI series after so long, but we’ve already played here – two practice matches. [We’ve been practicing] early in the morning so that we get used to the heat. It’ll be totally different compared to 20 overs beliwhere we’re on the ground for three, three-and-a-half hours,” Chahal added.

Bowling in ODI cricket is tough for a spinner in this day and age given the fact that only 4 fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle between overs 11-40.

But Chahal believes that it shouldn’t serve as an excuse as he has been playing 50-over cricket for 5 years now.

The right-arm leggie that prime focus every time he bowls is to take wickets rather than restricting the flow of runs.

”I’ve played for five years, 50-plus matches, so I’m used to all this. This is not an excuse or something. Now, when I bowl, I just focus on how to get batters out. That’s it,” he said.

“I’ve a couple of variations and I’m focusing on that only, not using other deliveries. You will see a more confident Yuzi in this series. I’m just working on my angles and in general trying to bowl more.” he added.

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