Samson’s 128 frustrates Sri Lanka, tour tie ends in draw
Skipper Virat Kohli letting him go all out for wickets has played a key role in his success, says legspinner
One of the factors behind every successful leg-spinner is the faith shown in him by the captain. And India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal attributes his success to Virat Kohli’s unwavering confidence in him, and says that is what motivates him to bowl fearlessly.
The attacking leggie, who picked six wickets against Australia and four versus the Kiwis in the ODI series at home, said Kohli allowed him to go after wickets.
“Virat bhai has always told me that even if I concede runs, if I get him a couple of wickets in the middle overs, he won’t mind. In T20s, he told me if I go for 35 runs in 4 overs but pick two or three wickets, he will be happy.
“However, in the last T20 at Trivandrum, in my second over, the plan was (to restrict) not to go for wickets because if I attacked, I’d have had to flight the ball and either I would have got a wicket or got hit for a six,” Yuzvendra Chahal, 27, told Hindustan Times over phone from the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.
CHAHAL’S GAMBIT
Kohli’s constant push for wickets also saw Chahal play a defining role in the ODI series decider against the Kiwis at Kanpur. Despite Colin Munro and Ross Taylor putting Indian bowlers under pressure, Chahal helped India win the series with a brilliant spell of 2/47.
A junior chess international who switched to cricket, Chahal’s ability of stay ahead of the batsmen has helped his cause. And his battle against Kiwi opener Colin Munro was a classic example.
“Against Munro at Kanpur, I bowled a slower ball, he got beaten and there was an appeal for stumping. I got a clue he liked to stand and deliver, and doesn’t believe in leaning into his shot.
“I thought I could bowl a little up and if I am getting turn that will be my plus point. I wanted him to go over cover as it was Position Third
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Death Overs Position First & Second
Three to Five Death Overs I I Overs Runs Overs Runs Wkts Wkts
inside the circle. The flight was good, it dipped and he played without leaning into the shot. The risk involved was very high.” Munro was bowled. Known to pick wickets by bowling outside off-stump, his recent spells show he has made middle-stump deliveries lethal as well. Glenn Maxwell and Kane Williamson fell to wide variations; Munro and Guptill were beaten by flighted, middle-stump deliveries.
“Our coaching staff has really helped (in attacking middlestump). Mahi bhai reads the situation very well, so he tells how to plan. The ball outside off-stump is a variation but my strength is to keep hitting the spot. At the same time if I am bowling slowly and the ball isn’t turning, the batsman is caught in two minds, (not sure) it will turn or not.”
Another reason why Chahal is preferred by Kohli could be his ability of bowl well in conditions where the ball gets wet because of dew. Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav struggled in Guwahati (T20 vs Oz ) while Axar Patel too had a tough time. Chahal said it is R/O 4.86 R/O
Skipper Sanju Samson stood out with a sublime 128 to lead Board President’s XI fightback against visiting Sri Lanka as their two-day tour match ended in a draw here. In reply to Sri Lanka’s 411/9 declared, the Board President’s XI were struggling at 31/2 after lunch on the second day, but Samson patiently built his innings and helped his side reach 287/5 when both captains agreed on a stalemate after 75 overs.
During his 143-ball knock, Samson hit 19 fours and one six. Appointed skipper on the eve of the match after Naman Ojha was ruled out with an injury, the Kerala youngster showed big match temperament as he took on the Sri Lankan Test attack with ease.
Samson anchored the Board innings with three useful partnerships of 68, 71 and 85 runs with Jiwanjot Singh (35), Rohan Prem (39) and Bavanaka Sandeep (33) respectively. On a track that offered little help to bowlers, Sri Lanka ended up using 10 bowlers, including regular wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella, who bowled the last over of the match.
Ace all-rounder Angelo Mathews, who is recovering from a calf injury that forced him out of the entire Pakistan series, however was not seen bowling his medium pacers. Bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake said Mathews would not bowl in the upcoming three Test series beginning at Eden Gardens on November 16.
“He will not be used as a bowler as we have enough options for the bowling all-rounders’ slot,” Ratnayake said. On a frustrating day for the Lankan attack, it was their new-ball bowler Lahiru Gamage, who was most effective en route to his 2/41. The medium pacer dismissed Tanmay Agarwal (16) and Anmolpreet Singh (3) in successive overs to give them a promising start before Samson seized the momentum and completed his fifty from 63 balls. Brief scores: Sri Lanka 411/9 dec (S Samarawickrama 74, N Dickwella 73*, D Karunaratne 50, S Warrier 2/60) drew with Board President’s XI 287/5 (S Samson 128, L Thirimanne 2/22).
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