Kohli goes gaga over Chahal

Dubai, Sept. 22: Crediting Yuzvendra Chahal’s three- wicket burst for his side’s 10- run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their IPL- opener, Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli said the wrist spinner proved that he can get purchase on any wicket.

Chahal ( 3/ 18) removed in- form Englishman Jonny Bairstow ( 61) and Vijay Shankar in successive balls in the 16th over to tilt the game decisively in RCB’s favour. He had earlier gotten rid of Manish Pandey ( 34) in the 12th over.

“It’s amazing to be honest. Last year, we were on the other side of the result, 6- nil to start. It is nice to be 1- nil. We kept our composure tonight,” Kohli said at the postmatch presentation on Monday.

“Yuzi ( Chahal) comes in and completely changed the game for us. Not many spinners got much out of the pitch, but tonight he showed that you can turn it if you have it in your wrists. He showed he can get purchase on any wicket. The way he came in and

bowled attacking lines, he changed the game.”

Talking about his side’s batting, Kohli said, “We started really well. Devdutt Padikkal was really good on debut, Finchy as well. AB batting

in the last three overs helped us push it past 160.”

Player of the match Chahal said, “When I bowled my first over, I realised I need to bowl stump- to- stump line and

backed myself.

“At one point they were batting well and I was trying to bowl loopy ones and wide of the reach which helped in building pressure.”