IND v AUS 2019: Muralitharan comes out in support of Yuzvendra Chahal after failure in Mohali ODI

Chahal scalped just one wicket and gave away 80 runs off his 10 overs.

Yuzvendra Chahal with Kedar Jadhav and Virat Kohli | Getty

All eyes were on Yuzvendra Chahal as he was making a comeback to the playing XI in the fourth ODI against Australia. But Indian leg-spinner couldn't quite deliver the kind of performance that one expected of him on a big ground in Mohali. 

Chahal failed to pick up crucial wickets in the middle-overs while Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb and Ashton Turner were scripting the most unlikely victory for their side. He struggled especially when the dew came on before returning with match figures of 1/80 from his 10 overs. And received some criticism as well. 

But former Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan reckons that it was just one of those rare occasions for Chahal, who'll definitely bounce back in the next match. 

"You cannot expect the kid to pick five wickets every time he goes out to bowl," Murali told IANS. "He is a champion bowler and has been bowling really well in the last two years. He has shown that he has the variety and the guile to dismiss opposition batsmen. It is a case of him failing in one game and trust me, he is no robot. You cannot put pressure on the boy by expecting him to deliver in every game. Have some patience."

Legendary EAS Prasanna also feels that Chahal will definitely help India come out triumphant in the series-decider at Delhi on Wednesday (March 13). And hence, the team management led by skipper Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri should give him all the confidence. 

"How many games has he played? Around 50 (41)? Are you telling me he has played so many ODIs for the country just like that? Let us be patient with the boy," he said. "I think the Australian players have over the years become good players of leg-spin and there is no reason to worry. He has the calibre and has proved himself in the last couple of years."

"Just because (Adam) Zampa has picked wickets, Chahal is to be questioned? I don't feel that is necessary because he has played only one game in the series so far."

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 12 Mar, 2019

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