Having made his international debut back in June 2016, India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has come a long way. He has claimed 51 wickets at an average of 24.92 in 31 ODIs thus far, while his T20I wicket-tally read 42 in 26 games with two four-wicket hauls and one 5-fer.
Chahal had a memorable tour of South Africa earlier this year, taking 16 wickets in 6 ODIs as the Men in Blue clinched the one-day international series with a stunning margin of 5-1. He followed it up with eight wickets in the Nidahas T20 tri-series that India won by beating Bangladesh in a thrilling final.
The wrist spinner toured UK with the Indian cricket team in June. He picked up merely two wickets in three ODIs against England and a solitary wicket in 3 T20Is against the same opponent. However, Chahal bagged 6 wickets in 2 T20Is against Ireland. He did a decent job in India’s triumphant Asia Cup 2018 campaign, talking 6 wickets in 5 games on the flat wickets of Dubai.
As Team India gearing up to face West Indies in white-ball cricket, Chahal believes it will be a good preparation for the upcoming Australia tour as the Caribbean team have some dangerous power hitters in the limited-overs format.
"I am not going to take the West Indies team lightly," Chahal told TOI in an exclusive interview.
"They are an amazing side in limited overs cricket. They have game changers and big hitters. It is going to be an exciting series." Chahal added.
Team India will play 5 ODIs and 3 T20Is against the Windies from October 21 to November 11. Subsequently, Virat Kohli and company will travel to Australia where they will play 3 T20Is, 4 Tests and 3 ODIs from November 21.
"The limited overs series against the West Indies will be good preparation for me against Australia. I just want to give my best in the series. I want to get fully prepared for the Australia tour," Chahal opined.
When asked if he is under pressure to perform considering his average outing in the last couple of series, Chahal said: "I learnt a lot from both Asia Cup and England tour. I know I failed to take too many wickets but both series taught me a lot."
"Put pressure and take wickets, that's my mantra to take wickets. Sometimes controlling the run flow is more important than taking wickets. I believe in trying different variations and confusing batsmen," he concluded.
