Yuzvendra Chahal: "I don’t take much pressure"

The limited-overs leg of India's tour to South Africa might be a while away but Yuzvendra Chahal, the leg-spin star of the Indian team, is dedicatedly preparing for the upcoming series.

In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, he spoke at length about his relationship with Virat Kohli, Kuldeep Yadav and other senior members of the team along with the batsmen who challenge him as a bowler.

Here are a few excerpts from the interview:

1. South African pitches are tailor-made for seamers. How are you preparing yourself for such conditions in the upcoming tour?

You know when you are playing in South Africa, you won’t be getting much turn. South African pitches support seamers but then if you have noticed (in the 1st Test between India and South Africa) in Cape Town, the pitch was not absolutely flat. It did support some turn. That helps us in setting our game plan. Kuldeep and I will get some turn there but we will have to change our line a bit. That’s more important.

2. Does being a chess player help you in strategizing?

Not that much. It was 14 years ago [that I last played chess]. It’s been a long time. But, chess has definitely taught me to be patient. During the times that I don’t get a wicket and frustration starts building up, I am able to hold my nerve.

3. You have mastered the art of bowling leg-spin, googly and top-spin. Besides these, are you working on any other variation?

I am not developing anything new. I am working on improving and bettering these actions only. I can deliver four variations and I am quite happy with that.

4. In the recently concluded series against Sri Lanka, you got consecutive four-wicket hauls. Being a spinner, you have a splendid T20 record with 26 wickets in 14 matches. How do you adjust your bowling to the shortest version of the game? Have the successful IPL stints helped at the international stage?

Yeah, obviously, they have. Compared to ODIs, I have played more T20s both at the International level and in the IPL. So, I have more experience and it gives me an idea about how to bowl according to the situation of the game. During the IPL, we get so many situations like the Power Play and the death overs. I don’t absorb much pressure, be it an IPL game or a game for India, and only aim to deliver my best.

5. In the match against England where you scalped six wickets for 25 runs, what was going on in your mind at that time?

I didn’t have a plan per se. When I was hit for a six in the first ball, I told myself that I needed to be patient and I would eventually get wickets. Bangalore is a small ground and I have played a lot of games there, which was an added advantage.

6. How different is Virat Kohli as a captain during the IPL and in international matches? Has playing under the same captain in both the arenas helped you become better as a player?

There’s not much of a difference really. I have played so many matches under Virat bhaiya that he knows me well as a bowler. It became easier for me to play under him for India. I could easily communicate with him and there’s a good understanding between the two of us. Besides him, Rohit bhaiya also helps me a lot on the field and I get good support from Kuldeep while bowling.

7. One batsman you dread bowling to?

I haven’t really thought of this, but I guess bowling to David Warner in T20s is challenging. I have to think a lot while bowling to him.

8. One batsman you enjoy bowling to?

Glenn Maxwell. He makes me think a lot. It feels good to push your limits and test yourself.

9. One batsman you would love to bowl to?

I am waiting to play against AB (de Villiers) in South Africa.

10. In the IPL, you have AB de Villiers on your side. Now you will be playing against him in his own den. How’s the equation going to change?

It’s going to be challenging for me as I have always bowled to him in the nets and haven’t played against him in a competitive match.

11. Who is your idol?

I idolized Shane Warne ever since I was a child.

12. How are you dealing with all this new-found fame?

It was my childhood dream to play for India. People have more expectations from me now. They want me to perform every time. I believe I have more responsibility now.

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