Yuzvendra Chahal, the spinner for Punjab Kings, is the all-time leading wicket-taker in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, in the current 18th season of the T20 tournament, he hasn't been performing at his best. So far, he has only taken two wickets in five matches. During the game against SunRisers Hyderabad on Saturday, Chahal frequently bowled wide to avoid giving up boundaries and sixes.

Piyush Chawla has criticized Chahal's cautious style. While he did manage to dismiss Travis Head on Saturday, he still gave away over 50 runs in his four overs.

SunRisers Hyderabad successfully chased down a target of 246 runs with eight wickets remaining and nine balls to spare, thanks to Abhishek Sharma's impressive 141 runs off 55 balls. Travis Head also contributed with a solid 66 runs off 37 balls.

Chawla believes that Chahal's "safe game" isn't beneficial for him, as he is known for being an aggressive spinner, and his best performances have come when he actively seeks wickets.

While chatting on ESPNCricinfo's 'TimeOut', Chawla mentioned, "He had that opportunity with the dropped catch of Abhishek Sharma, and you really need at least one chance like that. He created it, so he can’t blame anyone else. He almost got there, but after that, when both batters [Abhishek and Travis Head] were attacking him, I didn’t see the Yuzvendra Chahal we used to know from a couple of years ago or even last year."

"He seemed to be more focused on just keeping it safe rather than trying to get the batsman out. He was tossing it wide and playing a more defensive style of bowling. That aggressive Yuzvendra Chahal hasn’t been visible lately. I haven’t even seen him bowl googlies. If you’re pitching it wide outside off stump for left-handers and it’s moving away, you’re missing out on chances to take wickets," he continued.

Chawla believes Chahal had a great opportunity to be more aggressive against SunRisers since Punjab Kings had set a massive target of over 240 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

“This season, he’s bowled around 14-15 overs but hasn’t often completed his four overs, and he’s giving away more than 11-12 runs per over, which makes it seem like he’s playing it safe,” Chawla pointed out.

“You just want to get through your four overs and hope to snag a wicket. But today, with 245 runs on the board, you’re going to concede runs anyway, so it would have been better to go for wickets. If you manage to take a couple of wickets, you’re right back in the game,” he concluded.

Not aiming to dismiss the batter

Chahal, who was acquired in the mega auction for INR 18 crore, has been struggling with an economy rate of 11.13. Additionally, he hasn't managed to bowl his full four overs in three matches.

Wasim Jaffer suggests that Chahal should concentrate on delivering more googlies instead of trying to avoid the hitting zone and aiming for a more economical performance.

"I think the few balls he bowled when he took Travis Head's wicket are the kind of deliveries we need to see more from Yuzvendra Chahal," Jaffer commented.

“He needs to focus on spinning the ball, throwing in some googlies, and adding more revs, which seems to be lacking in his game lately. He appears quite defensive, and the pressure is evident on his face, indicating he's not at his best. For Punjab to improve, figuring out Chahal's role is crucial,” he continued.

Read Also: Punjab Kings Owner Preity Zinta Lauds SRH’s Abhishek Sharma After Batting Blitz

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