Wickets reward for bowling off-stump line, indicates Chahal

India's leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal revealed his decision to stick to an off-stump line after taking six wickets in his team's 75-run victory in the third Twenty20 in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Published : Feb 02, 2017 12:03 IST , Bengaluru

Yuzvendra Chahal celebrates one of his six wickets on Wednesday.
Yuzvendra Chahal celebrates one of his six wickets on Wednesday.
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Yuzvendra Chahal celebrates one of his six wickets on Wednesday.

India's leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal believes he was rewarded with six wickets for his consistent line outside off-stump, > against England in the third Twenty20 on Wednesday. Chahal returned third best figures in Twenty20 cricket with six for 25, the best by an Indian.

“When Joe Root and Morgan were going great guns, I planned to bowl to them on the off-side after discussing it with Mahi (Dhoni) and Virat [Kohli], because hitting becomes difficult by maintaining that line,” he told reporters at the post-match press conference. Chahal’s superlative performance won him the Man-of-the Match award.

> Read: Kohli hails 'memorable' victory

“When England were bowling, the ball was turning a lot and gripping and also coming off the pitch slowly. Therefore, I planned to bowl fuller to Billings and Jason Roy with the new ball because they are good batsmen. Then I watched Mishy (Mishra) bhai - he was getting turn and [was] varying the pace of the ball, which I adopted. That helped me get wickets,” he said.

'Never says no'

India captain Kohli singled out him for special praise. "We have lot of spinners available in middle overs, who are wicket-taking bowlers - who are not just run-containing bowlers. That is why I would back someone like Chahal, and that is why in [Indian Premier League], I play him in most of the games. He never says no to bowl at any situation and that is why he ends up taking more wickets,” Kohli said.

> Read: Kohli acknowledges value of Dhoni's inputs

Chahal said his aim was to get at least three wickets even if he went for 40 runs in the stipulated four overs because he knew bowlers would go for runs if the grounds are smaller. “I have not played that many matches for India, but whenever I play in Bengaluru, I feel it is like my home. I have taken wickets here. I would like to continue with this kind of performance in the upcoming domestic and IPL matches," he said.

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