No doubt Royal Challengers Bangalore leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is excited about the prospect of making his debut for the Indian national team, but what the wily spinner is looking forward to most is the chance to play under the captaincy of ‘Captain Cool’ MS Dhoni.
Chahal, who shrugged off his early struggles to emerge as the second leading wicket-taker in the recently concluded 2016 IPL season with 21 wickets in 13 matches, has been experiencing an altogether different style of captaincy with the highly-active Virat Kohli handling the reigns of RCB ever since his move to the Karnataka capital after initially being signed up by the Mumbai Indians franchise in 2012.
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Chahal’s splendid season was rewarded with a place in the ODI & T20 squad’s for India’s upcoming tour against cricketing minnows Zimbabwe and the 25-year-old is in high spirits ahead of his first assignment with the Men in Blue.
“Yes. I am just waiting for my chance. It’s the first time that I am going to play under Dhoni. Dhoni is the best captain,” Chahal said, as reported by the Asian Age. He further revealed that he has already been receiving advice from the skipper, well ahead of the team’s departure to the African nation, where they will be playing 3 ODIs and as many T20Is between June 11 and June 20.
“He (Dhoni) told me that I have to use my feet when I bowl,” Chahal said.
Speaking about his preparations for the tour, Chahal said that he will be leaving for the national capital later today to take part in the preparatory camp where the squad will assemble before departing for Zimbabwe.
“I am going to New Delhi on Friday and will start practice. I will see videos of matches played in Zimbabwe and accordingly prepare myself,” he said.
Chahal praises Kohli’s positive attitude
Chahal praised the IPL for providing a platform for youngsters like himself to bowl against some of the best batsmen in the world and made special mention of RCB skipper Kohli and head coach Daniel Vettori for instilling confidence in his game and helping him develop his skills.
“If someone hit me for two to three sixes, Virat told me that it’s fine, you are bowling well. It’s good if someone hits you for a six from a good ball. Virat is not the same (in the dressing room) like he’s on the field. He’s very calm and always positive.
“Even on the ground, he’s always positive. For a youngster like me, he’s the best person to have on the field. Sometimes, I feel the pressure but whenever I see him, I get positive vibes,” Chahal said about his skipper.
As for Vettori, Chahal pointed out that the former New Zealand skipper was making fine adjustments to his bowling which other had failed to notice.
“Vettori always works on my bowling in the nets. Sometimes when you bowl faster, your body falls away, so Vettori would notice that and would say that you have to stand up and bowl,” he said.
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