Former India cricketer Parthiv Patel has said that leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal would have been keen to create an impact in the 2nd T20I against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui on Sunday, November 20.
Accepting that the expert spinner would have been a little disappointed to have warmed the bench throughout the T20 World Cup in Australia, Patel added that Chahal looked in a good rhythm.
In a take that divided opinion, the Men in Blue went with Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel as their 2 spinners in the playing XI for the T20 World Cup. While Chahal was part of the 15-member team, he did not get to perform a single game during the competition. The previous year, the 32-year-old was dropped from the team for the T20 World Cup in the UAE, with Varun Chakravarthy being chosen ahead of him.
Making a return to the playing XI for the 2nd T20I against the Kiwis on Sunday, Chahal amazed with figures of 2/26 from his 4 overs. Praiseful to the leg-spinner, Patel described Cricbuzz:
“The kind of season he (Chahal) was going through, obviously he would have been slightly disappointed that he didn’t get a game in the World Cup. He was looking forward to this. He has not done anything wrong, so whenever you get an opportunity, you try and make the most of it. Chahal has been doing it for India and RCB for years.”
What a game here at Bay Oval 🏟️
Happy to get a win and happy to witness a SKY Special 🙌🏻 🇮🇳
A very special edition of Chahal TV coming soon on https://t.co/5s7VclXTKc 😉#TeamIndia | #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/x3U2VsBCTM
— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) November 20, 2022
In addition to Chahal, Mohammed Siraj also maintained 2 wickets, while part-timer Deepak Hooda support himself to four scalps as India maintained a total of 191 with ease. New Zealand was bowled out for 126 in 18.5 overs as the Men in Blue clinched the match by 65 runs.
“He is now as late there with any leg-spinner in the world” – Parthiv Patel praises Yuzvendra Chahal
However, Chahal did not perform a single game in the T20 World Cup, and Patel did not think that it was a reflection of his position as a bowler in international players. He named the leggie as one of the best in the business and answered:
“Powerplay is very important, but to get wickets in the middle overs is also very crucial. If you are bowling to a set batter, the only way to stop him from getting runs is by getting him out. Glenn Phillips was 12 off 5, but he still bowled that slow ball and forced him to play across the line. He showed again today that he is right up there with any leg-spinner in the world.”
Dominant win 😎
Onto the next one 💪 pic.twitter.com/FGZdxxXQWE— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) November 20, 2022
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