Veteran India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal said on Sunday that he had to struggle to adapt to the cold weather in Dublin during the 1st T20I against Ireland. The first T20I was delayed by close to 2 hours as rain intervened just before the toss and that led to a drop in temperature too.
However, Yuzvendra Chahal did well in India’s 7-wicket victory as the leg-spinner showcased incredible control, giving away just 11 runs in his 3-over spell as well. Chahal picked up the wicket of Ireland’s wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker and kept the pressure on them as the hosts scored 108 runs in their allotted 12 overs. The match was reduced to a 12-overs-per-side affair after the rain delay. Chahal and Bhuvneshwar Kumar shone with the ball for India before Deepak Hooda’s 47* helped India chase down the target in just 9.2 overs as well.
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Chahal was named the Player of the Match for his stunning show. “Very difficult (to bowl in these cold conditions). I felt like a finger spinner today. Sometimes it’s hard, but you have to adapt to every condition,” Chahal said after his match-winning efforts in the 1st T20I. “No I’m not okay I’m wearing three sweaters right now,” Chahal said jokingly later on.
Moreover, Yuzvendra Chahal credited Hardik Pandya for the freedom the new captain gave him in the 1st T20I against Ireland. Notably, Hardik Pandya got off to a winning start on his T20i captaincy debut as well. India will play against Ireland at the same venue in Dublin in the 2nd T20I on Tuesday, June 28 as well. “The atmosphere under Hardik is chill, he gave me the freedom to execute my plans,” Yuzvendra Chahal added.
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On the other hand, captain Hardik praised Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Chahal, saying that the two senior bowlers are reliable match-winners. “Bhuvi is top class and same with Yuzi as well. Match winner, just toss the ball to him and tell him you bowl whatever you have to…he usually wins the match for you,” Hardik Pandya said.
