Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is focused on making good use of the one-month break post the Indian Premier League to sharpen his skill sets at the National Cricket Academy under Narendra Hirwani before embarking on India's challenging tour of the United Kingdom.
Chahal has emerged as India's frontline spinner in the limited-overs’ format alongside chinaman Kuldeep Yadav, post the Champions Trophy in June last year, taking over the mantle from Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
With 43 wickets from 23 ODIs and 35 scalps from 21 T20Is, Chahal is being seen as a vital cog in India's World Cup campaign in the UK next year.
The 27-year-old doesn't have the prior experience of playing in the UK but he has already planned how he will go about the task on his maiden tour in six weeks' time.
“Before England, we are going to Ireland. The weather is expected to be the same as in England. I have a month left after IPL. I will go to NCA in Bengaluru for training. There I will have a chat with my coach, Hirwani Sir (former India leg-spinner)," Chahal said, after Royal Challengers Bangalore’s victory over Delhi Daredevils in Saturday’s IPL encounter.
“He (Hirwani) has also played earlier in the UK (for India as well as league cricket), so I will ask him about the weather and conditions. India A team will also tour first and I have a lot of friends in that team. I will try and find out from them as to how helpful the pitches are and how the bounce is.”
The second season is very important for any player as oppositions prepare various strategies.
Asked about how he would counter all the video analysis done of his bowling, he replied: “Just like they have videos of our games, we also have theirs.”
Chahal has not been as prolific in the ongoing IPL as he was during past editions, though he has been keeping things tight. He has picked up 10 wickets so far in 11 games, with an economy rate of 7.57.
On a personal front, he is satisfied with his performance so far.
“If I am not getting wickets, then I am also giving away fewer runs. That means, this year the batsmen are not attacking me that much even though they have seen me more now,” he said.
RCB's bowling this season is more consistent than their batting even though they have been guilty of leaking way too many runs in the death overs.
“We are making mistakes in the death overs, but we will gradually improve.
Defending the inconsistency of RCB batsmen, Chahal said: “If we reached the final in 2016, it was because of the batsmen. In every match, they were the guys, who gave us 200 plus totals. As bowlers, we should also be aware every time, we will not get to defend 200.”
While Chahal's team won, three Delhi players – Nepal spinner Sandeep Lamichhane, South African pacer Junior Dala and India's U-19 star Abhishek Sharma – made their IPL debut.
It was a historic moment for Nepal cricket when Lamichhane was handed his maiden cap by coach Ricky Ponting. The 17-year-old leg-break bowler eventually opened the bowling for his team and picked up India stumper Parthiv Patel's wicket. He ended with tidy figures of one for 25 in four overs.
“It is not a good result for the team but I am happy with how I did on my debut. I have never opened the bowling in international cricket so it was exciting especially against a batting side like RCB. It is a big moment for me and Nepal,” a proud Lamichhane, who finally made the eleven after sitting out for 11 games, said.
Was being on the bench frustrating?
“Actually it has been a good one and a half months for me. I have learnt a lot. We have an exceptional coach (Ricky Ponting). I have been very lucky so far. This moment doesn't come easily but I still have a long way to go,” the youngster seemed aware as to where he stood.
He said the presence of his mentor Michael Clarke in the IPL also helped him.
“He has been in regular touch,” said the spinner, who also gets along well with India Under-19 stars Prithvi Shaw, Abhishek Sharma and Manjot Kalra.
Lamichhane also confirmed that he would be playing in the upcoming Caribbean Premier League.
