Chahal makes the most of his chance with crucial scalps
PALLAKELE: India skipper Virat Kohli is clear that wrist spinners are the way to go as the team builds up towards the 2019 World Cup.
On Thursday, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was pretty alert with his craft. He bowled with confidence, varying pace, length, amount of spin and flight to keep Sri Lanka’s tentative batsmen guessing after being brought in at the end of the first 10-over powerplay phase.
He dented the Sri Lankan innings, claiming the wickets of opener Dhanushka Gunathilaka and aggressive No 3 Kusal Mendisto return 2/43, having made a similar impact with two wickets in the first ODI in Dambulla.
There is nothing surprising about Virat Kohli’s faith in Chahal, who had played just three ODIs before this series, on the 2016 tour of Zimbabwe where he took six wickets. He had to wait till getting another chance in this series, but Kohli is familiar with Chahal’s ability, as he also leads him in IPL side Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Ch a hal ,27, made his first-class debut n 2009, but has played only 70 games in seven years. The presence of leg-spinner Amit Mishra in Haryana team could have played a role. However, it’s a big step for Chahal to replace Mishra in the Indian team.
The series against Sri Lank a is his first against a major side. Though Sri Lank a are struggling, there was no sign of nerves after being picked to play in Dam bull a, where he broke a promising standby removing opener Gunathilaka there too.
He took two for 60, going for runs in his later spell there. He was also miserly in Pallekele till Milinda Siriwardena and Chamara Kapugedera looked for some quick runs later in the innings.
India have not chosen finger spinners R Ash win and R av indra Jadeja for this series. Ashwin, though the chief wicket-taker in Tests, has played ODIs sporadically and has hardly been a force of late.
With England, the 2019 World Cup venue, not known asap lace where finger spinners do well, it is no surprise Kohli is backing wrist spinners.
Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Ya dav, the other wrist sp inner in the team, is waiting for a chance. Kuldeep impressed in the West Indies and took five wickets at Pallekele in the third Test win to complete a series sweep.