IRE vs IND 2018: Focusing on One Series at a Time - Yuzvendra Chahal

The upcoming two-match T20I series against Ireland will serve as a preparation for a much tougher England tour which will follow for the Indian Cricket Team.

However, India is not looking too ahead and want to concentrate on one series at a time. They won’t be treating Ireland lightly despite given the fact they are ranked 17^th in the ICC T20I Rankings. Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal feels focusing on the job at hand and not thinking about past or the future has left them in a pretty good space.

Chahal spoke to the reporters in Dublin ahead of the two-match T20I series against Ireland. Chahal is not looking back on his impressive showing in South Africa. He believes in the present and wants to delivery for the team. The leg-spinner is not looking back nor he is looking too far ahead and thinking about the World Cup. It is slated to be held in England and Wales next year.

“We played in South Africa and performed well there but that is the past. We are in Ireland now, so I am thinking that I am playing a strong opposition and cannot judge a team on its name. Obviously, I am excited that this is my first tour in the UK. I’m not thinking about the World Cup because there are still 6-7 months left to think about it. There are so many series before that, so I am thinking series by series instead of looking at future,” said Chahal.

Despite India focusing on the Ireland series, he was asked about the stunning performance by England in the ODI series against Australia. However, Chahal didn’t read too much into the topic.

“England has scored against Australia; they haven’t scored against us. Wickets might be different. English spinners have also picked up wickets. So that is also a plus point for us,” he said. He further added wrist spinners would play an important part.

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“It’s not like wrist spinners are necessary for winning, it is just a recent trend. It is not like teams without wrist spinners have not won in the past. But it is just that the batsmen are mentally more under pressure against wrist spinners and variation,” Chahal added.

“Compared to other spinners we have more variations. Like left-arm spinners only have straighter ones and normal spin, for me at least we have four variations, so batsmen have to think more which ball is coming. Compared to leg spin it turns more a bit. Batsmen have to look at the head position all the time. If they don’t, it is a plus point for us. I have two googlies, one closer to my head and the other sidearm,” he said.

Small ground won’t matter says Chahal,

India will be playing at Malahide which holds up to 8,000 people which is quite less compared to the Indian grounds. However, Chahal didn’t really felt it will hold much of a significance.

“We just came today. Amazing weather and haven’t seen the wicket yet. Two games before England series, it is very important for us. Playing together after 2-3 months it is important to us.

“Whether I play the first or second game, I am going to enjoy it. (It’s a) smaller ground, haven’t seen the wicket (but I) have played on the smallest ground – Chinnaswamy, no ground can be smaller than that,” he added.

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