IPL 2025: Yuzvendra Chahal Proves a Point.. Or Two --- to Himself and Others
The PBKS leggie has bounced back after an indifferent start to the IPL
Yuzvendra Chahal couldn't have gotten into the IPL 2025 with a more cluttered mind. His off-field domestic issues must have surely weighed him down.
And it showed in the first few matches.
He had just two wickets from the first five matches at an average of 83.2, an economy rate of 11.1 and a strike rate of 45.
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The IPL's highest wicket-taker and the only one to have crossed the 200-wicket mark looked cooked.
And just when things couldn't get any worse for the PBKS leggie, the game against KKR happened. The Punjab team was shot out for a lowly 111. The match looked gone, and then Chahal stepped in.
In a matter of 3 overs, he changed the match upside down --- and his form, too. Chahal scalped 4 wickets in the space of 18 deliveries, and PBKS pulled off an improbability --- defended the 111. A record in the league's history.
So going into yesterday's match against RCB, Chahal was in fine rhythm. Bengaluru and Chinnaswamy always brought the best out of him as he had spent many seasons with RCB. His record at the iconic venue is: 54 wickets in 44 innings at an economy rate of 7.6.
But this time, it was against RCB.
Chahal was primed for the contest, though. In a rain-curtailed match, with batters flailing their bats, Chahal had a task at hand. But he delivered a master class to finish off RCB at its home venue and helped PBKS secure a five-wicket victory in the 14-over match.
He claimed two vital wickets for just 11 runs in his three overs. His scalps included RCB captain Rajat Patidar and wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, both of whom were key to RCB's batting strategy. Chahal's ability to vary his pace and exploit the pitch's grip proved instrumental in dismantling RCB's middle order, ensuring they could only post a modest total of 95/9.
With six wickets in his last two games, Chahal has reasserted his status as one of the IPL's premier spinners. His resurgence comes at a critical time for PBKS, which is now second on the points table and eyeing a strong finish to the league stage.
And if he continues in the same vein, who knows, a return to the national colours in the shorter formats cannot be ruled out.
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