Red-ball Cricket takes a bit more time and brain to adjust, says Yuzvendra Chahal

Chahal eyeing spot in the Indian Asia Cup squad.

Chahal is currently playing for India A | Getty Images

Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal admitted that the Test Cricket takes a bit more time to adjust, as well as has to use more brain as compared to White-ball Cricket, though, believes that the Red-ball Cricket helps the bowlers to get their mind sharp.

He is currently playing for India A against South Africa A at home in the Test series and managed to take only four wickets in two unofficial “Tests”.

As per reports in ESPNCricinfo, Chahal said, “It does take a bit of time to adjust because the batsmen don’t have a lot of pressure [in red-ball cricket]. In ODIs and T20s, if the run-rate is high, then the batsman tries to go after you and get out. But in the longer form you need to get them out with your skills. You need to use your brain more. So it’s quite different because you need to bowl 30-35 overs here, but only four overs in T20s.”

The leg-spinner also believes the Red-ball Cricket improves bowling, saying, “After 2016 [his last first-class appearance for Haryana in the Ranji Trophy], I have continuously played white-ball cricket, so I didn’t get time. But if you bowl with the red ball, your bowling will improve and your mind will get sharper. You need to adjust on these kinds of surfaces where spinners don’t have much help, so you use your idea – whether bowling outside off stump or changing the field – so in this format you need more planning.”

He added, “We can implement these learnings in ODIs and T20s too. Because there’s a difference between red and white, so the selectors sent me here. A two-year gap is a long time, and I need to stay fit for longer periods, because you need to bowl 30-35 overs a day. It’s difficult to bowl a good ball but to take a wicket off it, that’s even more difficult. The more I play this format, the more I’ll mature.”

On being asked about breaking into the Test squad in the ongoing England tour, Chahal signed off by saying, “Not even thinking about the squads for the last two Tests in England. My experience of England was very good because it was my first tour, but my focus is on this game. If my name doesn’t come, then my mind will be on the Asia Cup. So I’ll shift my focus on that series after this game.”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 14 Aug, 2018

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