Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal (Credits: BCCI)

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has backed Yuzvendra Chahal to play a key role in the upcoming second T20I against South Africa.

Chahal had picked up 5 for 22 when both the teams had played the second ODI at the same venue. And Gavaskar feels the spinner will be crucial in the upcoming game. Chahal had picked up only one wicket in the last game and had conceded 39 in his 4 overs. The former India skipper is also hopeful that Virat Kohli will be fit for the game.

In the 14th overs of South Africa’s innings, Kohli had walked off the field. However, he had later adjudged himself fit.

“The Centurion pitch will help the spinners a little more as was seen in the last one-day game last week, so Chahal will be a key bowler again in the middle overs. Virat Kohli had left the field with a niggle so hopefully he will be fully fit to pile on the misery once again for South Africans,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for The Times of India.

SA vs IND 2018: Sunil Gavaskar Backs Yuzvendra Chahal To Play Key Role In Second T20I
Chahal had taken 5 for 22 in the Centurion ODI (Credits: BCCI)

Gavaskar further lauded the Indian team for its continued dominance over the hosts. The Men in Blue have looked almost unstoppable since winning the third Test in Johannesburg. They blew away the hosts in the ODIs, winning the series 5-1 to claim their maiden bilateral series in the rainbow nation.

The dominance continued in the T20I too as India won the game comfortably by 28 runs. Sent in to bat first, the tourists posted 203 for 5. In reply, the hosts were restricted to 175 for 9.

“The Indian team continues to exert its dominance over the harried South Africans and their power packed display in the first T20 game will have made the Proteas scratch their heads even more trying to figure out how to stop this rampaging team,” Gavaskar wrote.

SA vs IND 2018: Sunil Gavaskar Backs Yuzvendra Chahal To Play Key Role In Second T20I
Shikhar Dhawan had scored 72 off just 39 (Credits: BCCI)

“Having an inexperienced new ball attack didn’t help as the Proteas didn’t know what hit them as Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan got the team off to a flying start. Virat Kohli then showed he can play the aerial shots as well clobber the ball into the stands. It was breathtaking stuff and it was little wonder to see the usually brilliant Proteas fielding unit dropping catches, fumbling with the ball and giving away extra runs,” he added.

The legendary player went on to praise India’s pacers for their fine show on the batting-friendly wicket. Bhuvneshwar Kumar had starred with the ball, taking 5 for 24 off his four overs.

Chasing over 10 runs an over is a Herculean task for any team but was made even more mountainous by the tight opening spell from Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah. Though Hendricks and Behardien had a good partnership they didn’t have the finishing power and India won with plenty to spare,” Gavaskar wrote.

SA vs IND 2018: Sunil Gavaskar Backs Yuzvendra Chahal To Play Key Role In Second T20I
Bhuvneshwar with the Man of the Match trophy after picking up 5 for 24 in the first T20I (Credits: BCCI)

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