Chess helps me plot the opposition batsman’s dismissal: Yuzvendra Chahal

The young leg-spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal plays for Haryana in Indian domestic cricket and is featuring for the IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in this season.

The 25-year old caught the attention when he took 34 wickets in the National Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy in 2009, ending the tournament as its leading wicket-taker. Currently playing for RCB, he has been a key bowler in a comparatively weak bowling lineup, who doesn’t have the services of Mitchell Starc and Samuel Badree due to injuries. Chahal had picked up 19 wickets from 11 matches, being the purple cap holder in the tournament currently. He has a bowling average of 17.05 at an impressive strike-rate of 13. The leg-spinner played a very crucial role in their last league game against Delhi Daredevils (DD) taking 3 for 32 which helped RCB to get through to the playoffs. Chahal has been included in the Indian squad for the Zimbabwe tour.

Know more about Chahal: 16 Interesting facts about Yuzvendra Chahal

Speaking to Times of India, Chahal revealed how chess helps him think ahead of the batsmen. “Chess helps me plot the opposition batsman’s dismissal. I try to be one step ahead of the batsman, especially in T20 cricket where the bowler has to think on his feet. Then when the batsman is going hard, I try to remain calm. My chess training helps me in staying focused on the job in hand,” said Chahal, who was the part of Indian Under-16 chess team.

His father, KK Chahal also told TOI how the lack of funds put an end to the game. “To progress in chess, he needed about Rs 50 lakh a year. But we could not find sponsors. So, he had to abandon the game. He does play it as a hobby these days.”