'They Have So Much Power...': Yuzvendra Chahal Names Two Toughest Batters He's Bowled Against
Yuzvendra Chahal, the all-time leading wicket-taker in IPL history, has revealed the names of the two most challenging batters he's bowled against thus far.
Yuzvendra Chahal is gearing up to represent his new franchise Punjab Kings at the upcoming IPL 2025 which gets underway from March 22 in Kolkata. Chahal was released by Rajasthan Royals ahead of the mega auction last year and then was signed by PBKS for a jawdropping Rs 18 crore – the highest price he’s ever commanded in his IPL career.
PBKS is the fourth different IPL franchise the legspinner will be part of having earlier been recruited by Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and RR.
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During his playing career, Chahal has bowled to some of the fiercest hitters of the cricket ball including but there are two particular batters whom he considers the most “challenging".
And it’s not Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli.
“Heinrich Klaasen is one, Nicholas Pooran another," Chahal told Hindustan Times. “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."
However, Chahal says he never thinks about the reputation of the batter he’s bowling against to avoid putting himself under unnecessary pressure.
“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," Chahal said.
Eight years of Chahal’s IPL career were spent in servicing RCB, a franchise that plays its home games at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium – a venue known for its shorter boundaries.
“Ground dimensions have become a big factor because the wickets are also getting flatter, and bats bigger and powerful. But I love to take challenges. I have bowled on Chinnaswamy for eight years, so the fear of bowling on smaller grounds has gone," he said.
Chahal is the all-time leading wicket-taker in IPL history with 205 scalps from 160 games.
He was also India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is before being recently surpassed by left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh.
“When we were together at the (2024) T20 World Cup, I had told Arshdeep ‘you are the one who will break my record’. I am very happy for him," Chahal said.
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