Since making his debut for India in 2016, Yuzvendra Chahal has been absolutely brilliant in white-ball cricket. But the leggie can take his game to another level if he can use the crease a lot better, reckons former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed.
The Haryana-born leg-spinner, who first got the limelight with his exploits playing around a weak Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) attack in the IPL, has now turned up in 52 ODIs and 42 T20Is for India, bagging 146 wickets at the highest level.
"Chahal is a very good bowler but can use the crease much better. He can go wide of the crease at times. You got to be smart enough to understand pitches. If it is a flat pitch, you can bowl stump to stump," Mushtaq told PTI.
"If the ball is gripping, you can go wide of the crease because you can trouble even the best of batsmen with that angle. That way your googly also doesn't turn as much as the batsman expects and you end up taking a wicket."
Mushtaq, himself among the finest leg-spinners that the game has seen, believes Chahal, as well as his partner Kuldeep Yadav, have gained a lot because of MS Dhoni's presence behind the stumps.
"You have got to be one step ahead of the batsman. You should know your field position as per the batsman's strength. I always say attack with fielders, not with the ball. If you understand that theory, you will always be successful."
"India has become a force to reckon with in all three formats as it uses its bowlers really well. Dhoni was a master at getting the best out of his bowlers in limited-overs cricket and now you have Virat Kohli," he said.
Apart from Chahal and Kuldeep, Mushtaq is happy to also see the likes of Adam Zampa, Shadab Khan flourish and keep the art of wrist-spin alive.
"You need leg-spinners and mystery spinners in your team as they have the ability to take wickets at any stage of the game. I see a lot of them coming through in the next 10-15 years," said the 1992 World Cup winner.
"Most batsmen now like playing express pace but with a good leg-spinner in the team, you are always in the game."
(Inputs from PTI)
