‘This is a team game’ – Yuzvendra Chahal’s selfless take on being benched for Ind vs WI ODI series

Yuzvendra Chahal. (Photo Source: Yuzvendra Chahal/Twitter)

The experienced leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has won India many matches with his guile and deception. Usually a jovial person, Chahal is known for being a gutsy character on the field, who doesn’t get rattled after being taken for runs. For someone who has taken 121 wickets in 72 ODIs at an average of 27.13, being left out of the playing XI against a side like West Indies, who have had their share of struggles against spin, must have been a bitter pill to swallow. However, the 33-year-old understands that cricket is a team game unlike chess, and he is happy as long as he is in the squad and not sitting at home.

Chahal wasn’t used during the three-match ODI series against the West Indies, but he returned to the playing XI for the first T20I at Brian Lara Stadium and finished with figures of 2/24 in three overs. The veteran spinner has faith in the management, as he reckons that he would get a game when they feel the pitch requires an extra spinner.

“I’ve not been playing in the last two-three series. Previously you would have seen me playing in England or West Indies and Kuldeep (Yadav) was not playing then. We need to look at the team combination, you’re playing against whom and where are you playing. If tomorrow there is a turning wicket here then you can also field three spinners in the XI,” Chahal said at the pre-match press conference ahead of the 2nd T20I in Guyana on Sunday, August 6.

Chahal dismissed openers Brandon King and Kyle Mayers in the first T20I. Kuldeep Yadav also bowled well as he finished with figures of 1/20 in four overs. The spin duo, fondly known as ‘Kul-Cha’, will be hoping to keep the West Indies batters in check as Hardik Pandya’s men look to bounce back in the series after losing the first game by four runs. Kuldeep Yadav is three short of 50 T20I wickets, and it will be interesting to see if he can reach the landmark in the second T20I.