'He was an attacking spinner': Ex-spinner explains what has gone wrong with Chahal

Former Indian cricketer and BCCI selector Sunil Joshi has highlighted several shortcomings in Yuzvendra Chahal's bowling. Joshi said that Chahal was an attacking spinner but he has lost his mojo in the recent past, suggesting complacency on part of the Haryana bowler. Joshi said that Chahal needs to focus more on his follow-through and should concentrate on hitting the right lengths. Joshi said that at times Chahal gets hit for runs because he pushes the ball with no overspin at all. 

'Needs to focus on his follow-through'

"Chahal needs to focus more on his follow-through, hitting the right length, which is the fourth-stump line, putting more effort into his arm speed, and spinning the ball. Most important is spinning the ball. At times I have seen in the last few series, he really got hit because he was pushing the ball - the seam revolutions were flatter, there was no overspin. For any finger-spinner, the wrist has to move over the top of the seam, and if it goes sideways, then the spinner will be undercutting the ball," Joshi said. 

"He was an attacking spinner. Everyone gets a little cushioning - okay, theek hai, I've done well now, let me relax a bit. Suddenly by the time you realise that, the pressure is on you," Joshi added. 

Joshi suggested that Chahal, who is not able to get game time in the middle, should request the team management to go and play domestic cricket. The former India cricketer added that Chahal needs to focus on temperamental and tactical parts because that is how he can fox batsmen. Joshi said that match time is very important for a player to get back into form. Joshi also said that he would not pick Chahal in his World Cup XI looking at the current form of the bowler. 

Chahal was last seen in action during the second T20I against New Zealand on Sunday. Chahal bowled well on the spinning tracks in Lucknow, picking up one wicket for just 4 runs. Prior to that, Chahal played an ODI match against the Kiwis, where he picked up two wickets for 43 runs. Meanwhile, Chahal is likely to be left out of the squad for the third and final T20I against New Zealand on Wednesday. The Indian team management may bring Umran Malik back into playing XI. 

Image: BCCI