Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has a word of advice for Yuzvendra Chahal

After a slightly embarrassing performance against Hong Kong, the Indian contingent bounced back big time in the Asia Cup. They defeated arch-rivals Pakistan and Bangladesh comprehensively and have one eye on the final already. Former Indian cricketer Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, who currently is a part of the commentary panel, had a word of advice in a few departments for the Indian side.

He reckons that India should stick to playing two fast bowlers and can rely heavily on the spinners. In his column for the Times of India, LS noted that the temperatures in Dubai have been pretty high and the pitches too are tired and dry after hosting so many games in such a short span of time.

“Given the conditions in Dubai, with the temperatures in the early 40s and the pitches somewhat tired after having hosted so many games in so little time, India can afford to go in with only two quicks in Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah,” Siva said.

Chahal can be tried in the powerplay: LS

Siva also had a word of advice for the leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. He reckons that Chahal should alter his line slightly to an off-stump line to the right-handers. By doing so, his googly will become more effective in his words and batsmen will also find it difficult to pick him. He also opined that Chahal should be tried in the powerplay overs.

“That will mean one of the spinners will have to bowl in the Powerplay. My choice would be Yuzvendra Chahal, who is used to such a scenario in both international and IPL cricket, and is at home operating with a newish ball. The one thing I would like to see from Chahal is a slight alteration in his line,” he said.

“He will be better served shifting from middle-and-leg to an off-stump/ slightly outside offline to the right-handers. That will ensure batsmen won’t be able to pick his googly if they don’t see it off his hand. Further, if the ball spins a little more, batsmen will have to reach out to play the drive, which could so easily elicit miscues,” LS concluded.

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