Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal revealed that he watched videos from the recent South Africa tour to improve his bowling ahead of the three-match ODI series against West Indies in Ahmedabad.
Yuzvendra Chahal’s place in the team was under scanner due to his poor performance in the recently concluded ODI series in South Africa. The leg-spinner displayed an underwhelming performance as he took only 2 wickets in the three games at a disappointing average of 73.50.
However, he replied to all the critics in his style in the first ODI against West Indies in Ahmedabad. The leg-spinner took 4 wickets for 49 runs and found his mojo back.
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Chahal removed Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard in successive deliveries in the 20th over and then later sent Shamarh Brooks and Alzarri Joseph packing to help his side bundle out West Indies for just 176 runs.
Yuzvendra Chahal also completed 100 wickets in ODI format and became the 23rd Indian bowler to achieve the feat. He was also awarded Player of the Match for his performance in the first ODI against West Indies.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Yuzvendra Chahal said that he looked back at the footage from the South Africa series to see where he can improve. He remarked that after Washington Sundar took two wickets his job was to sustain the pressure and he got the feel of the wicket when the off-spinner was bowling.
"I looked back at the footage from the South Africa series to see where I can improve. Felt good. Washi struck twice in an over so we knew the pressure was on them (West Indies). My job was to sustain that pressure. Got the feeling watching Washi bowl that the ball was gripping,” Yuzvendra Chahal said.
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Yuzvendra Chahal further said that he had chat with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He revealed that senior players told him to bowl with pace and he bowled a few slower deliveries, that was a variation.
"Had a chat with Rohit, Virat, they said the pace is important. My thought was that if it's turning at pace, keep doing it. Threw in a slower one here and there as a variation," he said.
After India bundled out West Indies for 176 runs, skipper Rohit Sharma led from the front and scored 60 runs to set the chase for his side. Even though the hosts lost 4 wickets but an unbeaten 62-run partnership between Suryakumar Yadav (34*) and debutant Deepak Hooda (26*), in the end, took them home in 28 overs and take 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
(India Today inputs)
