IPL 2021: I was missing believe in the first half – Yuzvendra Chahal

Royal Challengers Bangalore talisman spinner Yuzvendra Chahal didn’t have a great run in the first half of IPL 2021.

Chahal had an insipid run in the first half of the IPL 2021 season as he could scalp only four wickets in the seven matches he played.

However, Chahal was able to turn the tables in the second phase and he has been at his absolute best for the franchise. In fact, Chahal was not picked by the national selectors for the T20 World Cup and he has shown what the team could be missing in the T20I showpiece.

The leg-spinner has been right on the money in the second phase and he has reaped fruits for his good work. Chahal has thus far scalped 14 wickets in 12 matches at an impressive average of 21.21 and a parsimonious economy rate of 7.34. Thus, Chahal has done a fine job for the Virat Kohli-led team as he has snared 10 wickets in five matches in the second phase of the tournament.

Furthermore, Chahal was once again at his best against Punjab Kings as he scalped three wickets and conceded only 29 runs in his quota of four overs at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Chahal said in the post-match presentation, “I just believe in myself. That’s what I was missing in the first half. I have just backed my strength and just varied my line today.”

The experienced leg-spinner revealed that Kohli told him to build the pressure by bowling dot balls and he was successful in executing the same.

“On this wicket, 160 is a very good score. We knew if we got early wickets, we could get them. In the middle overs, Virat-bhai (Kohli) told me not to go for wickets. He told me to bowl dot balls,” said Yuzvendra Chahal.

Chahal was also able to get the better of PBKS opener Mayank Agarwal, who had scored a fine knock of 57 runs from 42 balls. This is the fifth time when the leg-spinner got the crucial scalp of Agarwal in the last nine matches.

“He’s [Mayank Agarwal] a great batsman, and it’s always challenging to bowl to him. I didn’t want to give him loose balls. I wanted him to hit boundaries if he could. We had good momentum. After the first two games, we have bounced back well. Batting, bowling and fielding. We are just focused on taking it game by game,” added Yuzvendra Chahal.

The Virat Kohli-led team will next face Sunrisers Hyderabad at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.