My form hasn’t dipped, it’s just a phase for me – Yuzvendra Chahal

India’s spinner Yuzvendra Chahal reckons that his form hasn’t dipped and the current phase is a difficult one for him.

Chahal hasn’t been in the best of forms in the recent past and the same has been palpable in his performances. In fact, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal were integral part of India’s limited overs team but they haven’t played together in the recent past because of their poor form.

Both the spinners were consistently performing for the Indian team but they have fallen from grace. In fact, Kuldeep wasn’t even picked by Kolkata Knight Riders in their playing XI in IPL 2021.

Chahal feels it is not easy to regularly pick wickets in T20 cricket and the role of the bowler can change as it is also important to contain runs.

Chahal added that he has always picked wickets at regular intervals in his career and the expectations of fans are higher from him. As he isn’t quite living up to them, it is a bit disappointing for him as well as his fans.

“I don’t think so (on being out of form). I have been playing for so long now. I have been bowling in the IPL too. You can’t take wickets in all the matches.

There are times when the bowler goes wicketless in a couple of matches. That doesn’t mean his form has dipped. In T20Is, one needs to bowl with full control. We need to control the flow of runs. So, it is tough to bowl in T20Is,” Chahal told Timesofindia.com in an exclusive interview.

“People have got used to seeing me taking wickets. I have worked really hard to reach this level. I have impressed my fans by taking wickets.

Obviously, when I am not taking wickets, there will be comparisons and fans will be disappointed. But my form hasn’t dipped.

It’s just a matter of a couple of matches. This is just a phase for me. It happens with a batsman too when he is not able to score runs in 3 or 4 or 5 matches but after that, he starts scoring runs.

You will see me back in wicket-taking mode again and that too very soon,” the leg-spinner further said.

On the other hand, the spinner from Haryana added that Virat Kohli has always put his weight behind him. Kohli has told Chahal to back himself and not change too many things in his bowling.

“I have got a lot of support from him (Virat). In fact, during the IPL, he came and said – ‘Yuzi, jaise tu ball daalta hai hamesha, waise hi daal, koi changes mat laa (bowl the way you usually bowl, don’t change anything). His words motivate me a lot.

Not just on the field, he supports me off the field too. He (Virat) said – ‘Yuzi, no need to think too much, it’s just a phase, don’t take the pressure and just back yourself’, Chahal further added.