Yuzvendra Chahal, the king of leg-spin and cheeky one-liners, is back in the spotlight — not just for turning the ball square, but for dishing out some nostalgia and admiration.
Currently plying his trade with Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, Chahal says he is loving life under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy, will be cherishing old memories with 'Mahi bhai' on Tuesday, and keeping the KulCha dream alive for the fans.
Chahal, now 34 and the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, spoke candidly about what it was like bowling under MS Dhoni, the ultimate cricketing guru behind the stumps.
"Mahi bhai has watched me bowl from behind the stumps for years. He knows how I bowl, what I think, and what I’m likely to do. I can read — maybe 2 or 3 percent — of what Mahi bhai is thinking," TOI quoted him as saying.
And when it comes to bowling at Dhoni? That’s a whole different match. "If he walks in between overs 1–10, we know we have to attack. But if he comes in the later stages of the match, we understand exactly what he’ll try to do. We plan accordingly," Chahal said. “You can’t give him an easy ball — if you do, he’ll send it out of the park.”
From MI to RCB to RR to now PBKS, Chahal’s IPL journey has been colorful. He’s bowled under Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Sanju Samson, and now Shreyas Iyer.
“Every captain I’ve played under has given me freedom, whether for India or in the IPL. A bowler always has a plan, and when you share it confidently with your captain, it makes a difference,” he said.
Talking about his latest stint with Punjab, Chahal said: “I know Shreyas really well — he’s a good friend of mine. He gives you a lot of freedom. You can approach him at any time. He’s very calm. It’s not like if the opposition is scoring runs, he’ll panic — he remains composed. He listens to everyone, he’s very open-minded, and I’m really enjoying playing under his captaincy.”
The once-feared spin twin duo of Chahal and Kuldeep may not be running in tandem anymore, but the bond is far from broken. “I have fond memories of the term ‘Kul-Cha’ and my partnership with Kuldeep (Yadav). That bond will always remain special,” Chahal smiled. “Kuldeep is doing so well right now — I’m really happy for him. He’s the best. In my eyes, he’s the No. 1 wrist-spinner in the world. Right now, it’s the IPL. We’ll see what the future holds.”
(With inputs from TOI)
Currently plying his trade with Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, Chahal says he is loving life under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy, will be cherishing old memories with 'Mahi bhai' on Tuesday, and keeping the KulCha dream alive for the fans.
Chahal, now 34 and the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, spoke candidly about what it was like bowling under MS Dhoni, the ultimate cricketing guru behind the stumps.
"Mahi bhai has watched me bowl from behind the stumps for years. He knows how I bowl, what I think, and what I’m likely to do. I can read — maybe 2 or 3 percent — of what Mahi bhai is thinking," TOI quoted him as saying.
And when it comes to bowling at Dhoni? That’s a whole different match. "If he walks in between overs 1–10, we know we have to attack. But if he comes in the later stages of the match, we understand exactly what he’ll try to do. We plan accordingly," Chahal said. “You can’t give him an easy ball — if you do, he’ll send it out of the park.”
From MI to RCB to RR to now PBKS, Chahal’s IPL journey has been colorful. He’s bowled under Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Sanju Samson, and now Shreyas Iyer.
“Every captain I’ve played under has given me freedom, whether for India or in the IPL. A bowler always has a plan, and when you share it confidently with your captain, it makes a difference,” he said.
Talking about his latest stint with Punjab, Chahal said: “I know Shreyas really well — he’s a good friend of mine. He gives you a lot of freedom. You can approach him at any time. He’s very calm. It’s not like if the opposition is scoring runs, he’ll panic — he remains composed. He listens to everyone, he’s very open-minded, and I’m really enjoying playing under his captaincy.”
The once-feared spin twin duo of Chahal and Kuldeep may not be running in tandem anymore, but the bond is far from broken. “I have fond memories of the term ‘Kul-Cha’ and my partnership with Kuldeep (Yadav). That bond will always remain special,” Chahal smiled. “Kuldeep is doing so well right now — I’m really happy for him. He’s the best. In my eyes, he’s the No. 1 wrist-spinner in the world. Right now, it’s the IPL. We’ll see what the future holds.”
(With inputs from TOI)
You may also like
Comedian and actor Kenan Thompson reveals hidden health issue after suffering in silence
Darts world champ Luke Littler agrees with Luke Humphries over 'emotionless' games
IPL 2025: Shahbaz Ahmed Backs 'relaxed' Pant To Fire As LSG Brace For KKR Challenge
Donald Trump tariffs send S&P 500 into dire 3-day drop - worse than WWII and Covid
Take cognizance of attacks on judiciary over school job termination: BJP MP to CJI
