Asia Cup 2018: Yuzvendra Chahal Credits Pacers For Spinners' Fine Show

India spinner Yuzvendra Chahal credited the fast bowlers for the spinners’ fine show as the Men in Blue thrashed Pakistan by 9 wickets in the Asia Cup.

India came up with yet another dominating display both with the bat and bowl to dismantle the arch-rivals. The platform for the win was once again set up the bowlers.  Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar did not give Pakistan any chance of playing an attacking game at the start.

As a result, Pakistan managed only 4 boundaries in 15 overs. And thus when the spinners came, the batsmen tried to break the shackles and paid the price. Fakhar Zaman, who laboured to 31 off 43, fell while trying to sweep Kuldeep Yadav.

Prior to that, Yuzvendra Chahal came into the attack in the eighth over. The leg-spinner responded immediately by trapping Imam-ul-Haq in front of the wickets.  Chahal eventually finished with 2 wickets for 46 runs off 9 overs while Kuldeep took 2 for 41 off 10 overs.

And after the game ended, Chahal credited the pacers for creating early pressure that allowed the spinners to cash in on it.

“The new-ball bowlers usually bowl seven to eight overs before we spinners come into the attack, and the pressure they build on the batsmen with the new ball – they concede not more than 20-25 runs – helps us plan our line of attack as to where to bowl to maintain that pressure,” Chahal explained after the match.

“Because if you don’t give away boundaries in this format, the batsmen will inevitably be under pressure,” he added.

He further said he is now comfortable with bowling with field restrictions given how much he has bowled in the Powerplay in T20s.

“I have bowled quite a lot during the Powerplay in the IPL [Indian Premier League] and T20s, so this isn’t anything new for me,” he said. “I keep practising for it in the nets and vary my pace and lengths according to the wicket.”

Pakistan, meanwhile, managed to score 237 for 7. In reply, India chased down the total by losing just one wicket inside 40 overs. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan scored centuries to add 210 run for the first wicket before the latter fell for 114. Rohit, who remained unbeaten on 111,  and Ambati Rayudu then took the team home.