The highest wicket-taker in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is set to play for a new franchise in the upcoming season. Chahal was roped in for Rs 18 crore in the mega auction by Punjab Kings (PBKS) which will be led by Shreyas Iyer. Ahead of the 18th edition of cash-rich league, Chahal was asked to pick the two batters he finds tough to bowl against in the IPL. Chahal picked Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) Heinrich Klaasen and Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) Nicholas Pooran as they have ability to hit big sixes.
"Heinrich Klaasen is one, Nicholas Pooran another. They have so much power that sometimes even the edges go for sixes. They are the ones who are challenging.I have gone for sixes against them and done well against them too," Chahal told Hindustan Times.
"But, when I bowl, I don’t look at the name. When you look at their reputation, it will create pressure on you. I have the ball, they have the bat. I have to win the battle. I am not 6’5” or very broad. Mera sab kuch mind pe hai (My mind is everything for me). I always focus on that," he added.
Klaasen, Pooran's big numbers and massive deals before mega auction
Klaasen had his best season with the bat in 2024 as he scored 479 runs from 15 innings at an average of 39.91, including four half-centuries. He batted at a strike rate of 171.07 and hit 38 sixes in the season. After two good seasons with SRH, the Proteas batter was retained for Rs 23 crore before the mega auction.
On the other hand, Pooran scored 499 runs from 14 innings at an average of 62.37, including three half-centuries. He batted at a strike rate of 178.21 and smashed 36 sixes in the edition. The Caribbean batter was retained for a whopping Rs 21 crore before the auction.
Incidentally, both the wicketkeeper-batters were their respective franchises' first and most expensive retentions as they did not want them to go to the mega auction.
Chahal way ahead of others
Chahal is the only bowler to take 200 or more wickets in IPL history. From 159 games, he has 205 wickets at an average of 22.44, including one fifer and six four-fers. Among current cricketers, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) Bhuvneshwar Kumar (181 wickets), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Sunil Narine (180 wickets) and Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) Ravichandran Ashwin (180 wickets) have an opportunity to move up the list.
Chahal will make his PBKS debut against Gujarat Titans (GT) at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on March 25.