India vs Australia: “I got to know only 10 minutes before the innings that I would play,” says Yuzvendra Chahal


India vs Australia: “I got to know only 10 minutes before the innings that I would play,” says Yuzvendra Chahal
India celebrate an Australian wicket

The first T20I between India and Australia ended with India emerging victorious by 11 runs. There were several good performances for the Men in Blue with KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja shining with the bat and then the likes of T Natarajan, Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar keeping it tight with the ball. But the stand-out one was from leggie Chahal who picked up 3 wickets.

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The strange thing was that Chahal was not a part of the playing XI for the 1st T20I but was brought into the side as a concussion substitute for Ravindra Jadeja after a Mitchell Starc delivery had hit the all-rounder on the helmet. The substitution caused a bit of heated discussion between Australian head-coach Justin Langer and match referee David Boon but the same was allowed and the substitute proved to be the match-winner.

‘I tried to bowl like Adam Zampa’ – Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal with Virat Kohli

Yuzvendra Chahal was awarded the Man of the Match award for his terrific spell of 3-25. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Chahal spoke about his substitution and how he was mentally prepared. “I have played so many games and was mentally fit. No pressure for me when we were batting then I got to know I was going to play. 10-15 minutes before the start of the innings, I got to know I will play,” the leggie said.

Chahal also spoke about taking a leaf from his counterpart Adam Zampa’s book and said, “The way Zampa bowled, I tried to do the same as well. It was a little harder to score in the first innings. 150-160 is a good score on this wicket. I bowled according to my plans.”

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Also Read: India vs Australia: Yuzvendra Chahal replaces Ravindra Jadeja as concussion substitute