Yuzvendra Chahal Feels There Is No Substitute For Hard Work And Wants To Do Well Under Rohit Sharma

Yuzvendra Chahal has overcome the disappointment of being ignored for the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup despite having a fairly impressive IPL 2021 season for RCB. Now, he wants to focus on what lies ahead and make the most of the chances, not dwelling too much on the past.

Besides, the World Cup shock omission, he wasn’t retained by his IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the mega auction in IPL 2022. But Yuzvendra Chahal is unperturbed and is focused on the immediate challenge – performing for his domestic team Haryana in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Yuzvendra Chahal: There Is No Substitute For Hard Work

Immediately after India’s disappointing outing in the World Cup, Yuzvendra Chahal was called back for the home T20I series against New Zealand but played only one T20I. A week later, the leg-spinner got another setback as Royal Challengers Bangalore decided not to retain him despite him being one of RCB’s top performers with the ball in the last eight seasons.

“I am looking to do well in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and help Haryana win the title,” Chahal said. “I am bowling well in the nets and enjoying my bowling. There is no substitute for hard work. Whatever has happened has happened. After a gap of one year this time Ranji Trophy is also going to take place. I want to make most of the chances.”

RCB retained Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and Mohammed Siraj in the IPL retention that took place on Tuesday. Yuzvendra Chahal, who had been a part of the franchise since 2014, was released. Yuzvendra Chahal’s exclusion comes as a huge surprise to RCB fans. The leg-spinner has been the leader of Bangalore’s bowling attack for a good five to six years now.

Yuzvendra Chahal is the only RCB bowler to claim more than 100 IPL wickets. Yuzvendra Chahal has thus far featured in 114 IPL games, claiming 139 wickets at an average of 22.28 and an economy rate of 7.59-all for RCB.

Yuzvendra Chahal Is Looking Forward To Doing Well Under Skipper Rohit Sharma And Coach Rahul Dravid

Yuzvendra Chahal, who has taken 161 wickets at the international stage, says the support of his family helped him deal with the phase that followed after he learned of him not being picked in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup in UAE. In his international career thus far, the 30-year old has bagged 97 and 64 wickets in 56 ODIs and 50 T20Is, respectively apart from 139 scalps in 114 IPL games.

Yuzvendra Chahal picked a wicket, that of New Zealand opener Martin Guptill, on his return to XI, conceding 26 runs in four overs as India beat New Zealand by 73 runs in the final inconsequential T20I against New Zealand and register a 3-0 whitewash at home.

“It was disappointing to lose a spot in the Indian team for a mega-event like the World Cup,” Chahal said.

“I think I did reasonably well in the IPL and in the series against Sri Lanka. But that’s part of a sportsperson’s life. I was eyeing the World Cup since the time it was postponed. Nevertheless, I got great support from my family to overcome that disappointment. It was wonderful to get into the India dressing room against New Zealand.”

Yuzvendra Chahal though returned to the India setup with the three-match T20I series against New Zealand last month. With Rohit Sharma taking over as the new India T20I captain from Virat Kohli, the legspinner is hoping to continue the good work under the new skipper and new coach Rahul Dravid.

“I have done well under Virat (Kohli) and hope to keep doing well under Rohit’s (Sharma) captaincy in the T20 format. I have played with Rahul Dravid as coach while being in the India A team. He is a great coach with an intelligent cricket mind. Then there is Paras Mhambrey also now as bowling coach. I held discussions with him on my bowling. His inputs would definitely benefit me,” Yuzvendra Chahal said.

Yuzvendra Chahal picked only four wickets in seven games in the India leg of the 2021 Indian Premier League, at an economy rate of 8.26, which saw him fall out of contention for the race to the T20 World Cup squad, to Rahul Chahar, who snared 11 wickets in as many games(7 IPL games) at an economy rate of 7.21.

However, the RCB leg spinner made an impressive comeback in the second leg, picking 14 wickets in eight matches at an economy rate of 7.06. At the same time, Mumbai Indians’ Rahul Chahar struggled immensely, managing only two wickets in four games at an economy rate of 7.73.