'Cricket in shorts? I don't agree with that'
This was the response from Yuzvendra Chahal when asked about playing in shorts for the national team. "No, No. I don't agree with that (playing in shorts). Because we have to take care of our knees whenever we slide, it's very hard. My two knees are already gone, and there are many bruises. I think full pants work well for us," Chahal said at the post-match press conference.
The question was in relation to the hot weather that the Indian and West Indian cricketers had to endure during the visitor's three-run win over the host in a last-ball thriller at the Port of Spain which put the visitors ahead in the three-match ODI series.
As the discussion turned back to the match, Chahal said that bowling in tight situations in the Indian Premier League (IPL) helped him immensely. He added that the encouragement from the team management, including head coach Rahul Dravid, also boosted his confidence.
"The coach always backs me. He tells me 'Yuzi just back your strengths, we trust you'...," Chahal, who gave the timely breakthrough of Brandon King (54) in the 45th over to make the job tougher for the West Indies in their stiff chase of 309, said.
"This change has come from the IPL, because there I was bowling the 16th, 17th and 18th over, so I got the confidence from there. My role was clear, I was told to bowl two-three overs after the 40th over. So I practice accordingly and also plan with our bowling coach."
And when the coaches and management give you that much confidence you are always ready to go and perform. I always back my strengths, I knew that the ball had become old and the ball can turn and beat the batters. So I was changing my line, bowling wider because the leg side boundary was a bit small so I thought if he hits me over cover it would be better," he added.
In a high-scoring thriller, Chahal, who turned 32 on Saturday, finished with figures of 2/58 from his full quota of 10 overs.
The hosts needed 60 off the last 90 balls and a 56-run stand between King and Akeal Hosein (32 not out off 32) kept India on their heels. But Chahal and Mohammed Siraj held his nerves while bowling the last over with the Windies needing 15 for victory, India emerged winners.
"We had full faith in Siraj and that we can defend five runs in the last over as he was bowling his yorkers very well... He missed hardly one or two yorkers earlier. But yes, a little bit of pressure is always there, given the way they were batting. Sanju (Samson) stopped a certain boundary off a wide, and that raised our confidence," said Chahal.
Recap of the match
To recap, chasing a target of 309 runs, West Indies fell only three runs shy of the target, scoring only 305 runs in their stipulated 50 for the loss of six wickets. Kyle Mayers scored 75 runs for West Indies, and Brandon King also scored 54 runs. On the other hand, Mohammad Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Shardul Thakur took two wickets each for India. It was an important win for India, who have now taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
The second match of the series will also be played in Port of Spain on Sunday, July 25. This will be the perfect chance for India to secure their second straight ODI victory, having beaten England the last time around.
