Chahal: Virat tells me to ‘keep a big heart’
The Royal Challengers Bangalore may have lost to the Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday, but bowler Yuzvendra Chahal had a good day for the men in red, taking three key wickets and relishing the scalp of MS Dhoni.
Chahal bagged Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina and Dhoni, and despite his side losing by 27 runs, he was delighted with such big victims. He was expensive, but was pleased his plans worked out, wicket-wise.
Chahal told the IPL's official website: "I enjoyed taking Dhoni bhai's wicket. To get a batsman like him in the slog overs is huge. We know what he is capable of doing in those last few overs.
"[Daniel] Vettori sir had told me beforehand that I would be bowling with the new ball. It was our plan to stifle McCullum with spin early on.
"I was just trying to bowl accurately with a few subtle variations. I happened to bowl a slower wrong one and it got me McCullum's wicket."
Chahal did go for three big sixes off Raina's bat, but the spinner said his skipper and coach had told him not to worry about that, and to take the new ball with confidence and try all his variations.
Chahal added: "Virat and Vettori sir have given me a lot of confidence in that regard. Vettori sir tells us not to think about the ball you've been hit. Forget about it and concentrate on the next ball. That really helps in a T20 game.
"Virat always tells me not to worry about being hit for sixes. He backs me to bowl whatever I want to bowl and keep a big heart."
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