IND vs SL 2017, 3rd ODI: Unfair to Compare Me and Kuldeep with Ashwin, Jadeja - Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal, on Sunday (December 17), said it was unfair to compare him and his spin partner Kuldeep Yadav with senior spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
India’s decision to pin their hopes on wrist spinners in the limited-overs format has worked so far, as Chahal and Kuldeep once again proved their credentials with decisive spells in the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka in Vizag.
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After being asked to bat first in the series-decider, the Islanders were looking primed to post a big total following the century-plus stand between Upul Tharanga and Sadeera Samarawickrama. The scoreboard was reading a commanding 136 for one when Chahal accounted for Samarawickrama and 24 runs later Kuldeep sent back Tharanga which turned the game on its head. Both the spinners went on take two more wickets apiece, as the visitors lost their last eight wickets for just 55 runs to get all out for a modest 215.
Chahal and Kuldeep finished with combined figures of six for 88 in 20 overs, and not surprisingly when the former walked to address the media gathering after the game, he was asked about the comparison between India’s current spinners in the limited-overs side and Ashwin and Jadeja.
Also Read: Watch: Yuzvendra Chahal Castles Angelo Mathews With Classic Leg-Spin
Chahal, however, was quick to play down the comparisons, saying it was unfair to compare the current duo with the two who have ‘done so much in the last 5-6 years’.
“Ashwin and Jadeja have done so much in the last 5-6 years,” Chahal said.“We have played only for four-five series. It is unfair to compare me and Kuldeep with them.
“Our aim is to give our best when we go out and play. If you start comparing now itself to them, it will not be right. We have played most of our games in India, one series in Sri Lanka but the conditions were similar to India. We have not played overseas,” he added.
Well, Chahal and Kuldeep will not have to wait long to prove themselves in overseas conditions, as India is set to tour South Africa very soon to play three Tests, six ODIs and three T20Is.
Speaking about the tour, Chahal said:
“The wickets in South Africa will be good and flat, but there will be some extra bounce. That is the plus point there. We have a break for a month after the T20I series, and the focus will be to prepare bowling on those similar wickets. I had played in South Africa for India A but never played on the major venues. This time, we will be playing in those main grounds.”
India, meanwhile, went on to win the series-decider by eight wickets to bag the three-match series 2-1.
Also Read: Kuldeep Yadav bags the Man of the Match award as India win series
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