Yuzvendra Chahal is preparing to take the field for Punjab Kings in the upcoming IPL 2025, set to begin on March 22 in Kolkata. After being released by Rajasthan Royals ahead of the mega auction, he was picked up by PBKS for an astonishing Rs 18 crore, the highest price he has ever commanded in his IPL career. This marks his fourth franchise in the tournament, having previously played for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals.
Over the years, Yuzvendra Chahal has faced some of the most explosive batters in the game but two names stand out as particularly challenging. While many might expect players like Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli to be on that list, for Yuzvendra Chahal, it is Heinrich Klaasen and Nicholas Pooran who pose the greatest threat. He admires their raw power, noting that even their edges can sometimes clear the boundary.
Despite the difficulty of bowling to such aggressive strikers, he takes pride in having both, conceding runs and successfully dismissing them in the past.
For Yuzi, the key to success is keeping a clear mind and not being overwhelmed by the reputation of the batter in front of him. He avoids thinking about big names, believing that doing so only adds unnecessary pressure. His strategy is simple- he has the ball, the batter has the bat and his job is to win that battle. Lacking the height or physical stature of some of his peers, he relies entirely on his cricketing intelligence to outfox opponents.
Having spent eight seasons playing for RCB at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, a ground known for its short boundaries, Yuzvendra Chahal has learned to embrace the challenge of bowling on smaller grounds. He acknowledges that the evolution of the game, with flatter pitches and more powerful bats, has made a bowler’s job harder. However, his time in Bengaluru has erased any fear of bowling in such conditions, making him mentally stronger.
As the leading wicket-taker in the IPL history with 205 dismissals in 160 matches, Chahal has already etched his name in the record books. In international cricket, he recently lost his status as India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is to Arshdeep Singh. Nevertheless, rather than being disappointed, he had predicted this moment, having told Arshdeep during the 2024 T20 World Cup that he would be the one to surpass his record. Seeing his teammate achieve this milestone brings him nothing but joy and this is the true sportsmanship!
