IND vs SL 2017, 3rd ODI: Our Role in the Middle Overs was to attack - Yuzvendra Chahal

Sunday (December 17) witnessed yet another sublime performance from India’s spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in the third and final One-Day International against Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan innings could get divided into two halves – the first which thoroughly belonged to the visitors and the second which completely went India’s way mostly because of the spinners.

After losing Danushka Gunathilaka early, the Islanders were looking primed for a huge total following the century-plus stand between Upul Tharanga and Sadeera Samarawickrama. The duo batted brilliant, adding 121 runs at 6.42 per over for the second wicket before Chahal gave the hosts the much-needed breakthrough by dismissing Samarawickrama.

Also Read: IND vs SL 2017, 3rd ODI: Unfair to Compare Me and Kuldeep with Ashwin, Jadeja – Yuzvendra Chahal

Any hopes of posting a big total were soon dealt a blow when Kuldeep had Tharanga stumped with an absolute peach of the delivery, making the southpaw going for the cover drive to a ball which landed on the off-stump but turned sharply in the end. A few minutes later, Kuldeep struck once again, this time removing the dangerous Niroshan Dickwella before sending back Akila Dananjaya to finish with figures of three for 42 off his ten overs.

Chahal, on the other hand, was equally impressive, as after breaking the big partnership, he derailed Sri Lanka’s innings by dismissing in-form Angelo Mathews and captain Thisara Perera. From 160 for two, Sri Lanka was all out for just 215. In reply, India, led by Shikhar Dhawan’s unbeaten century, chased down the total with utmost ease in the 33rd over to win the three-match series.

Speaking after the game. Chahal said his and his spin partner’s plans, were to attack in the middle overs.

“Our role in the middle overs was to attack,” Chahal said at the post-match press conference.

“Sri Lanka were under pressure, and we needed wickets. We put one slip in place. The wicket was assisting spin. On this wicket, you needed a slip because the shot Niroshan Dickwella attempted, if there were no slip in place, it would have been a boundary. He had tried it in the previous match. Rohit Sharma told us to bowl without fear. If one bowls short, batsmen can easily play on this track. So, the aim was to bowl with a bit more air,” he added.

Also Read: Watch: Yuzvendra Chahal Castles Angelo Mathews With Classic Leg-Spin

Chahal, who finished with figures of three for 46, further said he was getting the assist from the pitch and expressed his delight over the way he dismissed Angelo Mathews with a classic leg-spinner.

“I was getting some turn from the other end while bowling quickly or slowly,” he recalled. “I was wanting to vary my pace. When you bowl flatter, the batsman thinks that the ball will not turn much.

“The ball to Mathews drifted in and turned away by which he played down the wrong line and got beaten. It was the ball of the match for me,” he added.

Chahal went on to give an insight on what the spinners should do if the batsmen do well in the 50-over format.

“One has to mix-up pace in ODIs,” he said. “If the batsman is batting well, variation is the key. From the end I was bowling, I was not getting that much turn. My plan was to vary my pace as it will become difficult for the batsman to score. From the other end, Kuldeep was getting the ball to turn as he bowled slower. I was confident that if I could bowl from the end, Kuldeep is bowling, I would do well,” he said.

Also Read: Watch: MS Dhoni Inflicts yet another stumping at a crucial juncture in the game

The 27-year old, who had represented India in 17 ODIs and 12 T20Is since making his international debut last year, said just like others, he also dreams of donning the white jersey. Expressing his desire for making it to the Test team, Chahal said, his performance in the last edition of Ranji Trophy has given him the confidence he could do well in Tests.

“Test cricket is everybody’s dream. I played seven games in the Ranji Trophy last year. Before this, I had played just one or two games. When I played last year, I performed well, and it gave me confidence that I could play at the highest level. I have a habit of taking it one series at a time. I am not thinking about South Africa at all. My next focus will be the Twenty20 series,” he said.

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