Yuzvendra Chahal is having a great time in the ongoing white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. The wrist-spinner claimed five wickets in the two ODIs that he played as India clinched the 50-overs series 2-1.

In the T20I series opener against Sri Lanka in Colombo, Chahal on Sunday (July 25) once again displayed his brilliance, taking 1 wicket by conceding only 19 runs in his four overs.

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The visitors were defending 164/5 in the first T20I and Chahal’s economical spell played a vital role in India’s thumping 38-run victory.

Speaking after the game, Chahal said intense competition among a rich pool of spinners is driving him to perform "at every given opportunity" and secure his place in the T20 World Cup squad.

"It's definitely (a healthy competition). If you have a pool of around 30 players, you definitely have the quality. All the spinners are doing well. As a spinner, you know that there are at least two guys who are ready, who have performed here and in the IPL.

"All I can do is think for myself and perform at every given opportunity. If you perform, you get to play, and if you don't -- be it me or anybody - then you are out.

"So, whenever I have the ball in my hand, I don't think about others and I rather focus on getting the job done with the ball," Chahal said at the virtual post-match press conference.

He also explained the work he did in the lockdown period.

"Definitely, when I was not playing, I worked hard with my bowling coach on where to bowl. (I was trying to figure out) why I was not able to perform in a couple of matches. So, I worked on these even during the lockdown.

"I bowled with a single wicket (to aim at). I practiced with my friends as to where should I bowl. This type of bowling is my strength always; so, I backed myself before I came to this tour," he said.

As per Chahal, the important thing is that the more confident he would be, the better he would bowl.

"During the lockdown, I reviewed my bowling but I did not want to make too many changes. I wanted to look at the finer points like which line I must focus more on, whether I should bowl wider or stump-to-stump. I sat with (Bharat) Arun sir. And here there are Paras (Mhambrey) Sir, Rahul (Dravid) Sir and I sat with them.

"I saw the videos, what I am missing that I have been doing so well, these couple of matches that was not happening, then I backed myself," he remarked.

Chahal mentioned that his role is to control the middle overs and he was pleased that he could do that in the opening T20I.

"We knew that we were 10-15 runs short, but it is okay. Whatever the score is on the board, we have to defend that and my job is to control the middle overs and I was very happy I did that," the 31-year-old said.

"I just back myself (on) how I bowled, I always bowl like that only, so there is nothing on my mind if someone hits you for a six, I just back myself and I control the middle overs and that is my job," the leg-spinner added.

The second T20I will also be played in Colombo’s R.Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday (July 27).

(With PTI inputs)