'IPL auction is coming as well, so good luck' - Rohit Sharma teases Yuzvendra Chahal after clinching first ODI

Indian leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal picked up four wickets in the first ODI against Ahmedabad and in the process, reached the landmark of 100 wickets in the format as well. He was interviewed by skipper Rohit Sharma after the match for his major achievement and the former explained changing various aspects of his bowling that has worked out really well.

Chahal’s four-wicket haul alongside Sundar’s three-wicket haul restricted West Indies to just 176 and India chased down the target easily, thanks to a free-flowing 60 at the top from Rohit. After making his debut in 2016, Chahal has gone on to pick 103 wickets in 60 ODIs at an average of 27.3 so far. The 31-year-old is a completely different bowler when he gets it right. He wasn’t retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ahead of IPL 2022 mega auction and will up grabs on February 12 and 13.

‘I had never imagined I will achieve it this early’ – Yuzvendra Chahal

Rohit had asked Chahal about the emotions that were through during the achievement and the latter mentioned that it has been a roller coaster of a ride. Chahal was also delighted by the fact that he had managed to achieve the feat so soon and explained the way he has altered his arm position to get the maximum out of his bowling.

“It feels great. My career has seen ups and downs in the last five years. But it’s a good feeling when you take 100 wickets in any format, it’s a big thing. I had never imagined I will achieve it this early. I continued bowling with the same approach,” Chahal said in the interaction with Rohit.

“I have changed the angle a bit, especially for slow wickets. When I was not a part of the team, I was thinking about the improvement I can bring in my bowling. I used to see other bowlers who used to get a bit side arm for these wickets, so I also noticed that the release is much quicker and there is more effort from the wrist in that case,” he added.

Rohit concluded the interview by advising Chahal to continue with the good work and stressed the importance of a good mindset. He also teased Chahal relating to the upcoming mega auction for IPL 2022 and wished him good luck to go for big money.

“You are a key player for us, I want you to play with that mindset. There will always be ups and downs. But it is very important to play with the right mindset. And the auction is coming as well, so good luck,” Rohit advised.