Veteran leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is India’s leading wicket-taker in the T20I format. The 33-year-old is currently taking part in India’s five-game T20I series against the West Indies and played a crucial role in the opening match, picking up two wickets.
Chahal, who made his T20I debut in 2016, got the opportunity to work with some of the most legendary captains in white-ball cricket. Ahead of the second T20I between India and the West Indies, the senior spinner opened up about playing for India under different captains. When asked about spearheading the bowling assault under Hardik Pandya’s leadership, he mentioned about Dhoni, stating that the legendary wicketkeeper-batter offered them freedom as a bowler, and that is what the current skipper also does.
“I see it this way – You have four brothers in your family. Badey bhai they Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni – the eldest brother), then came Virat, Rohit and now Hardik. The equation remains the same. Nothing changes. On the ground, everyone wants their team to win. He gives us freedom as a bowler. The same freedom we used to receive, Hardik is giving us now. We (bowlers) can set our own field,” Chahal said at the pre-match press conference.
Chahal went on to praise Hardik, saying the all-rounder is a go-to bowler and that if a strategy fails, he will add his input. The 33-year-old noted that there are not many changes in leadership since the bowler always obtains the freedom he requires from the team captain.
“Even Hardik is a go-to bowler; if the plan doesn’t work, he provides his own input. So there are not any wholesome changes when it comes to leadership. The bowler (At Team India) always receives the freedom he needs from his captain,” he added.
The second T20I of the five-match series between West Indies and India will be contested at the Providence Stadium on Sunday, August 6. The hosts took a 1-0 lead in the series, outplaying the tourists by four runs in the first T20I played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.