Mumbai: Yuzvendra Chahal could easily be known as the "Wicket-taker." As the leading wicket-taker in IPL history with 205 wickets, he’s made quite a name for himself. Until recently, he was also India’s top T20I wicket-taker until pacer Arshdeep Singh surpassed him. In an interview, Chahal shared, “When we were at the T20 World Cup in 2024, I told Arshdeep, ‘You’re the one who will break my record.’ I’m really happy for him.”

Even with his impressive track record, Chahal has never been at the top of the IPL salary rankings, often due to the unpredictable nature of the auction. However, that changed in the latest auction when Punjab Kings signed him for ₹18 crore, nearly three times his usual IPL salary.

“I was so nervous that I missed the first few minutes of the auction. It’s a tense experience—you never know what your price will be or which team will pick you. A lot of thoughts race through your mind. But I’m glad to be closer to home,” he said. “When I reflected on it, I felt a strong sense of ‘Yes, I deserve this price.’”

Currently, Chahal is playing with the red ball in the English County circuit and will head back to Northamptonshire after the IPL. He’s also had his fair share of success with the Indian ODI team, but his real achievements shine in T20 and IPL formats.

Interestingly, Chahal doesn’t fit the typical mold of a T20 wrist-spinner who relies heavily on googlies. He’s not particularly fast in the air, and there’s no big mystery to his bowling style. His variations are more nuanced, yet he manages to confuse batters with his flight. “I have four variations (a leg-spinner, two types of googlies, and a flipper). I trust them,” he explained.

“The key is belief. How you react to match situations on the field is crucial. That’s when you decide whether to go for wickets or focus on stopping runs.”

I've always believed in the power of mental strength. If you can't believe in yourself, how can you expect others to? Whether I'm bowling the first over or the last, it's all about keeping the right mindset and staying focused on the moment.

Kul-Cha

With a strike rate of 17.18 over 160 matches and an economy of 7.84, he tends to go for the aggressive play more often, much like his spin partner Kuldeep Yadav. Together, they formed a strong duo for India in white-ball cricket. "I've really enjoyed bowling alongside Kuldeep. We have a great connection both on and off the field, and it shows," he shared. "Bowling with him is a blast because we both have the same attacking mindset. It’s all about partnership; if one of us concedes runs, the other tightens things up from the other end. We always have each other's backs."

It's hard to say if Chahal, now 34, will make a return to international cricket or if 'Kul-Cha' will be a thing again. The landscape of spin bowling in T20 is always changing, with mystery spinners bringing more unpredictability than traditional leg-spinners. India has found a gem in Varun Chakravarthy, and players like Axar Patel complement their spin with solid batting.

"I don't dwell on things I can't control," Chahal says when asked about his chances of returning to the Indian team. But he expresses happiness for Kuldeep. "Right now, he's the top wrist spinner in the world, and you can see that in his performances in both the IPL and international matches," Chahal notes.

Chahal's sharpness highlights his past as a serious chess player. He has a knack for outsmarting batters, luring them out of their crease, and delivering his signature wide leg-spinner – a classic Chahal move.

What’s really impressive is that he’s spent most of his career bowling on the short boundaries at M Chinnaswamy Stadium for RCB. Now, he’s likely to thrive at the larger Mullanpur stadium, which is the home ground for his new team.

“Field dimensions play a huge role these days since the pitches are getting flatter and bats are becoming bigger and more powerful. But I love a good challenge. After eight years at Chinnaswamy, I’ve lost any fear of bowling on smaller grounds.”

When asked who the toughest batsman he’s faced is, he mentions, “Heinrich Klaasen and Nicolas Pooran come to mind. They hit with such power that even edges can clear the boundary. They’re definitely challenging opponents. I’ve given up sixes to them, but I’ve also had my successes. When I bowl, I don’t focus on their names. If you think about their reputation, it just adds pressure. I have the ball, they have the bat, and I need to win that duel.

“I’m not 6’5” or particularly big. It’s all in my head. My mindset is everything, and I always keep that in focus.”

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