Aakash Chopra, Yuzvendra Chahal
Aakash Chopra, Yuzvendra Chahal. (Photo: Twitter)

Former batsman Aakash Chopra believes that South Africa has had the wood over Indian leg-spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal, in the T20I series so far because practically every batter has targeted him.

Chahal, 31, has only taken one wicket in the two games that have been played so far in the series. In the first T20I, he took 0 for 26 from 2.1 overs, and 1 for 49 from four overs in the second.

Chahal won the Purple Cap after taking 27 wickets for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2022. (RR). However, he struggled in the latter stages of the tournament, taking only one wicket in three playoff matches.

Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal. Image: BCCI

Yuzvendra Chahal Needs To Bowl A Bit Outside The Stumps: Aakash Chopra

Chopra was asked why Chahal has struggled to replicate his IPL magic against the Proteas in a Q&A session on his YouTube channel. He elaborated: “The South Africans have attacked him relentlessly. (Dwaine) Pretorius, (Quinton) de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen have all taken him on. Heinrich Klaasen has taken him down big time. He did the same once in South Africa as well.”

On being asked what Chahal can do differently Chopra said, “He might have to bowl a bit slower. Also, I feel he is bowling too close to the stumps, maybe he can bowl a little outside.”

Virat Kohli, Arshdeep Singh (Pic Credit- IPL)
Arshdeep Singh vs RCB. (Photo: IPL)

Aakash Chopra further said that Arshdeep Singh deserves to play ahead of Umran Malik, “I feel Arshdeep deserves a chance ahead of Umran, going by the pecking order. He is a left-armer, who can bowl in the powerplay. He is a gun death bowler. He can come in place of Harshal Patel or Avesh Khan. As much as you and I want Umran to play, I feel he will need some time and cannot be drafted in immediately.”

Read More  Navjot Singh Sidhu claims Virat Kohli will retire at the age of... 

In IPL 2022, Umran took 22 wickets in 14 matches for SRH, while Arshdeep took 10 wickets for PBKS at an economy rate of 7.70.

Also Read: ENG vs NZ: James Anderson Becomes The First Pacer In Test Cricket History To Claim 650 Test Wickets