Rajasthan Royals' (RR) and India's star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has made a resounding comeback in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) after having a silent campaign last year which also led to his snub from the T20 World Cup 2021 squad as Rahul Chahar was preffered above him.
But time has changed upside down for the 31-year-old and so is his form.
Chahal has bounced back in the 15th season of the IPL for his new franchise, RR, and has taken almost every top batter to cleaners. Chahal has so far snared 22 wickets and leads the race for the Purple Cap. Meanwhile, South Africa bowling great Shaun Pollock picked Chahal as a firm favourite to be on the flight to Australia when India travel there later this year for the 2022 T20 World Cup.
“There is no doubt Yuzi has got his form back. He’s really starting to look the part again. You can see that little bounce in his step. He’s got the deliveries coming out nicely. I would think he would be a firm favorite now to go to the T20 World Cup. I just like to see him back. He’s just such a nice character. Spent a bit of time with him in Mumbai. He’s so much fun. When things are going well on the field, it’s such a nice package to have him in the team environment,” said Pollock while speaking to Cricbuzz.
Chahal’s wicket tally also includes a fantastic five-for and a handsome hat-trick this season. On the other hand, Punjab Kings' (PBKS) Rahul Chahar has just 12 wickets under his belt so far in IPL 2022.
“In all honesty, Chahal wasn’t anywhere near the right form when it came to the last World Cup. He was out of form, he was bowling flat deliveries. He wasn’t confident to give it air. He had lost his mojo. That happens to you as individuals,” Pollock concluded.
Chahal, who earlier used to play for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), has played an instrumental role RR's surge in this IPL season as they are strongly placed at third place in the points table and are amongst the frontrunners to qualify for the play-offs.
