My focus is just on performing well: Yuzvendra Chahal

The young Indian team first won the ODI series with a convincing 2-1 victory over hosts Sri Lanka. The tourists will look to make a statement in the second T20I this evening, completing their final series in the shortest format before the ICC T20 World Cup in 2021.

This entire limited-overs series was an opportunity for Team India to experiment with different combinations and permutations. This series proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that India has one of the best bench strengths in the world of cricket.

During the virtual press conference, RCB star bowler Yuzvendra Chahal spoke about how important it is to believe in oneself and deliver promising results.

“Definitely, when the bench strength is so good, we have a pool of 30 players. Everyone is doing well; my focus is just on performing well. If you perform well, you stay in the team and if you aren’t, then you cannot stay in the team. I do not look at what others are doing, my focus is on giving good performances,” Yuzvendra Chahal was quoted as saying during the virtual press conference.

As bowlers we have to defend any score, says Yuzi

“When I was not playing, I was working with my bowling coach and I was working on my craft. Even during the lockdown, I was looking at where I should be bowling. I backed myself before coming on this tour. We knew we were 10-15 runs short (in 1st T20I), but that is okay. Whatever the score is, we have to defend that. My job is to control the middle overs and I was very happy that I did it. I always back myself,” he added.

On his chat with the debutante Varun Chakravarthy

“We talked before the match, I told him just to bowl how you do normally. I know the pressure can be there in the first match, it always stays there. I suggested to keep bowling the way he does, nothing changes whether you are playing international cricket or IPL," said the RCB leg-spinner.