Team India leggie Yuzvendra Chahal credits Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni for his success

Mumbai: Having been called up to the Team India squad, Yuzvendra Chahal has grabbed his opportunity with both hands. Along with youngster Kuldeep Yadav at the other end, the duo have formed a lethal spin partnership, leaving behind the presence of spin aces Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the limited-overs cricket.

Chahal, in particular, has been successful in taking crucial wickets during tense situations and has emerged as the attacking spinner, a one that Virat Kohli craved for in his side.

However, the Haryana bowler, who also played under Kohli for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, credited the Team India captain for backing him to bowl aggressively.

“Virat bhai has always told me that even if I concede runs if I get him a couple of wickets in the middle overs, he won’t mind. In T20s, he told me if I go for 35 runs in 4 overs but pick two or three wickets, he will be happy,” Chahal was quoted saying by Hindustan Times.

In the recent series against Australia and New Zealand, the Haryana leggie has got the better of dangerous batsmen consisting the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Kane Williamson, Colin Munro and Martin Guptill. The 27-year-old also thanked MS Dhoni for assisting him behind the wickets.

Also read: Caught on stump mic! MS Dhoni’s razor-sharp advice to Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav

“Our coaching staff has really helped (in attacking middle-stump). On the field, Mahi bhai (Dhoni) reads the situation very well, so he tells how to plan. The ball outside off-stump is a variation but my strength is to keep hitting the spot. At the same time if I am bowling slowly and the ball isn’t turning, the batsman is caught in two minds, (not sure) it will turn or not,” Chahal explained.

One of Chahal’s key strengths has been his penchant for bowling in dew conditions, where pitches fail to assist even the best of spinners. But the bowler says it’s all about mental strength.

“Dew will be there at this time of the year, but I simply don’t think about it. If you do, your focus wavers from bowling. There is no point putting unnecessary pressure on you. You have to be mentally strong and back yourself saying ‘I will bowl well no matter what’. Once you do that the thought of tackling dew goes away completely. Then you can focus on how to plan a batsman’s dismissal,” he added.