India vs South Africa | Yuzvendra Chahal : Iām in the team because of my ability to take wickets
Yuzvendra Chahal has claimed that his ability to take wickets in all kind of situations ensured his place in the limited-oversā team. Chahal has also talked about his partnership with Kuldeep Yadav and stated that they tried to create pressure on the opposition while bowling in the middle overs.
Chahal had the experience of playing on the flat tracks while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, where batsmen enjoy all the fun and there was a very little for bowlers. However, despite that, Chahal managed to pick wickets at continuous intervals and that wicket-taking ability grabbed the eye of the Indian selectors and he maintained that quality at the international level as well. In the second game of the six-match ODI series in Centurion, Chahal claimed five wickets and conceded only 22 runs to be the main architect of India's win.
My strength is to bowl to take wickets and that is why I am in the team.
Yuzvendra Chahal, on his wicket-taking ability
"I go for wickets and I flight the ball. 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," said Chahal quoted by PTI.
"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 theĀ cheap economy. My strength is to bowl to take wickets and that is why I am
After losing the Champions Trophy finalĀ to Pakistan, the selection committee decided to do away with the regular spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin to give a place to the wrist spinners. Kuldeep and Chahal didnāt disappoint and have been the main fulcrum of the team ever since. While their success in Durban would have qualified for beginner's luck, they defied odds to rattle South Africa for a paltry score of 118 runs in the second ODI in Centurion.Ā
"Whenever Kuldeep or I come on to bowl, we only think about taking wickets. We are
It was not the first timeĀ that the Haryana player visited South Africa as he was part of the India A team that visited the country last year. Using that experience, Chahal, during the South Africaās innings in the second ODI, decided to bowl slower balls which helped them in gaining some turn and batsmen failed to read those deliveries.
"Last year, we toured South Africa as part of the India-A team. It was winter time here then, but we had a little idea how the grounds are and how the wickets play. Obviously, you also see videos and matches nowadays so you get an idea.
"There is also bounce available on these pitches. If you bowl fast, the ball won't turn and it will come on to the bat. That's why Kuldeep and I vary our pace because you won't get the turn you get in India. The ball won't turn from under the bat. So you have to keep the ball away from the bat so that it gets time to turn. Also, you can then use the bounce on these pitches. Batsmen who don't use their feet, you have to keep the ball a little bit away from them. Kuldeep and I discussed to bowl either right up or back of a length," he added.