'He was a massive help for me in my earlier days' - Yuzvendra Chahal highlights Daniel Vettori's importance in polishing his skills

Leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has been one of the key factors for India in the white-ball format after marking his debut in the international scene in 2016. However, his absence from the T20 World Cup 2021 raised many eyebrows and he went on to mark his return in the shortest format during the NZ series. He then even donned the Indian jersey in the recently concluded ODIs against South Africa.

In the latest turn of events, the leg spinner opened on how the presence of coach Daniel Vettori helped him develop as a bowler while he represented RCB during IPL 2014. Chahal talked about the aspect in detail while speaking to Ravi Ashwin on his YouTube channel. Chahal talked of getting specific help and cricket knowledge from Vettori during his initial days.

“He had become the head coach when I joined them in 2014. He was a massive help for me in my earlier days at RCB. As a bowler, as a human being, as a person with cricket knowledge, he helped me a lot. He never used to change my bowling style, he just used to let me know how the ball is coming out and whether it’s drifting in a lot and stuff like that,” Chahal told Ashwin on his YouTube channel.

Vettori never put me under any pressure on me as head coach: Yuzvendra Chahal

“He used to pull me aside and make me bowl extra overs on open wickets. (Helped me in) Only those simple, small body movements. And I had to improve on that only. He used to send me bowling videos after 3-4 matches. But he never put me under any pressure on me as head coach,” Chahal added.

The Haryana spinner then went on to add how the former spinner’s wisdom on wrist position even helps him today and then Chahal referred to his as his favourite left-arm spinner.

“He told me that it’s all about wrist position and by changing it in the last moment, it would become difficult for the batsman to read it. Then I realized that you don’t have to change the action and the only key factor is the wrist position. To this date, that advice still helps me,” Chahal concluded.