India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal credited skipper Rohit Sharma for giving him freedom. He also talked about the suggestion that the senior Indian opener gave him during the IPL 2022.
The last year has been a roller-coaster ride for Chahal as he found himself in and out of the Indian team. The wrist-spinner was even left out of the squad for the T20 World Cup 2022 and whatever games he played he looked off colour.
However, Chahal bounced back strongly in the IPL 2022 and made many aware of the fact that he still deserves a place in the Indian side and is an integral part of the team.
Playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR), Chahal set the stage on fire and won the Purple Cap, claiming 27 wickets, the most by any spinner in the league. His impressive performance earned him his place back in the national side.
Since then, he has looked like a completely different bowler and has chipped in with the ball at important stages of the match. His impressive comeback was lauded by many as he made his presence felt in every series he played.
Speaking to Sports Yaari, Yuzvendra Chahal credited Rohit Sharma for always asking him what he wants to do and giving him liberty. He revealed that even during their own team’s batting, the skipper used to ask him what he would do in such situations.
“Rohit bhai always used me like a wicket-taking bowler. I got great liberty from him which every bowler expects from the captain. Rohit bhai would always ask me what I wanted to do as a bowler. Even during India's batting, he would ask me what I would've bowled in a particular situation. I got to know that as a bowler, I can't relax in an over," Yuzvendra Chahal said.
Chahal revealed that Rohit and coach Dravid told him that he might have to bowl for India in powerplay or even at the death so he should work on his fuller-length balls.
"Rohit bhai had told me that you might have to bowl in powerplay and during death overs before I started the IPL season this year.
"Work on bowling fullers ( full length balls). You might be asked to bowl during death over and powerplay overs while playing for India. You try using the crease more," he said
Chahal said that after a conversation with Rohit during the IPL, he used to bowl yorkers before the matches with the new balls to work on his skills.
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"Before the matches, I would try to bowl yorkers and ask the batters whether it's going too full. I tried different types of yorkers and I tried doing that with the new ball because if you can do it with the new ball, you can definitely work with the older one as well,” he said.
Chahal concluded by saying: “In IPL, you have power hitters but if you bowl well in front of them, you know you have improved. If you improve it creates doubt in the minds of the batsmen that if I hit him a sweep, he can also bowl a fuller one.”
Chahal will be next seen in action during the Asia Cup 2022. The leg-spinner is expected to play a crucial role for India in the multi-nation tournament.
(Sports Yaari inputs)
