Yuzvendra Chahal has revealed that he received some insightful advice from legendary former captain MS Dhoni during his most expensive T20I spell in 2018. Chahal credited former Indian skipper, MS Dhoni, for bringing belief and confidence in him.
During a conversation with off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, Chahal recalled a game from 2018 when he had conceded 64 runs in a T20I against South Africa, which is still the most expensive bowling effort for India in T20Is. Chahal still remembers Dhoni’s words, Heinrich Klaasen had got stuck into him smashing him for fours and sixes during his spell nothing was working. After that MS Dhoni had walked up to him to console and just told him to chill and not think much.
“Once, in a match where I got hit for 64 runs in a T20I in South Africa, and Klassen had hit me all around the park, Mahi bhai had told me to come around the wicket. I did that and he hit me for a six over the biggest boundary at mid-wicket. Then Mahi bhai came to me and I said, yes Mahi bhai, ab kya karna hai?. He said Kuch nahi, mai to waisehi aagaya tere paas. I know it’s not your day, you are trying but it isn’t happening. Zyada sochna nahi, apne chaar ka quota khatam kar aur chill kar” Chahal said remembering the incident.
“If at that time someone scolds you then your confidence level falls even lower. But he told me that it’s just one match. He said, ‘You did so well in ODIs, you won’t do well in every match, others are also playing.’ I also realized that in cricket sometimes you do well sometimes not and sometimes it’s just not your day. I also learned that when it’s not your day, you shouldn’t try too much and instead be economical and give others a chance to take wickets by building pressure,” Chahal added further.