Virat bhai tells us it doesn’t matter if we are hit for a six - Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal showed his class on Sunday. He was outstanding with the ball as he picked up his maiden five-wicket haul for India in ODIs. The 27-year old ended up with five wickets giving away just 22 runs. His superb spell of bowling bundled the opposition out for just 118 runs. He was ecstatic after receiving the man of the match award.

Chahal has been an asset to the Indian cricket. His partnership with Kuldeep is proving hazardous for the opposition. They accounted for five wickets in the first ODI and eight in the second ODI. The South African batsmen are troubled by the newcomers. The two wrist spinners have taken it upon themselves this ODI series.

I only look for wickets – Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal has a big heart when it comes to bowling and that is what gets him wickets. He doesn’t care for big hitters as he is always looking for wickets. The 27-year-old was talking to the media after the game when he said the same. He said that he will always flight the ball in search of wickets, which is his strength. He also talked about how management supports him to do the same.

“I go for wickets and I flight the ball and I know it can go for six too, but when your captain and your team management back you, it gives you the confidence to do it. I have played in Bangalore for RCB on flatter wickets than this, so you have to play to your strengths here,” Chahal said while talking after the match.

He said that he doesn’t care for the stature of the batter. If he does that then he will not be able to bowl to his strengths. Chahal admitted that he does not mind going for a lot of runs. He is always looking for wickets and he has learned a lot from bowling on flat pitches in Bangalore but if he doesn’t bowl to his strengths then there is no place in the team for him.

“If you worry about the batsmen or their stature, then you cannot play to your strengths. This is a routine for me. In IPL too, I have gone for 40 runs in 4 overs. But even then I feel that I have been hit on good balls. I don’t bowl to escape with the cheap economy. My strength is to bowl to take wickets and that is why I am on the team,” said Chahal.

‘Virat supports me no matter what’

Virat Kohli is an aggressive captain. He wants wickets from his bowlers no matter how much runs they leak. Chahal and Yadav have been benefitted from the same. The former told us how Virat supports him and how that helps him flourish. Chahal said that he is never short of confidence because the captain will back him even if he is hit for a couple of sixes.

“Virat bhai tells us it doesn’t matter if we are hit for a six, but we must bowl to our strength. If your strength is to pitch it up, then go for it. When your captain tells you that, you don’t have to worry even if you have been hit for two or three sixes, you get confidence,” said Chahal.

Yuzvedra also talked about how MS Dhoni helps from behind. He said that Dhoni tells them where the weaknesses of the batters lie. “From behind the stumps, Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) always keeps advising you. He knows what the batsman is going to try. It makes it easier for us,” concluded Chahal.