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This series is very important to me: Yuzvendra Chahal on playing senior spinner role

Abhishek Singh

Indian leggie Yuzvendra Chahal would be playing ODI cricket after eight months and he is excited to be back in the longer white-ball format. The Haryana born said that he has been asked by coach Rahul Dravid to play as the senior spinner in the team and guide the rest of the guys along with him. 

"You can't perform in every match. I will try my level best. This series is very important to me," said Chahal. 

"I keep having conversations with the bowling coach. My main focus at the moment is just this series - there's been lesser cricket over the last year, but that's not in our hands. Whatever series happens, we want to perform," added the 30-year-old. 

Talking about his future plans and how he is focussing series by series, Chahal said, "After this series, my focus will be on the IPL, and only then the [T20] World Cup. Right now, I'm focusing on this tour only."

The rules of the ODI have become demanding for the spinners over the years and with only four players allowed outside the 30-yard circle in overs 11-40, the runs flow easily. For Chahal who has mainly been bowling with five players outside the circle in the T20s, it would be challenging.

However, the RCB player begs to differ saying, "I've played for five years, 50-plus matches, so I'm used to all this. This is not an excuse or something. Now, when I bowl, I just focus on how to get batters out. That's it."

Asked about what's new in-store from the always chirpy and happy go lucky player on the field, Chahal said, "I have a couple of variations and I'm focusing on that only, not using other deliveries. You will see a more confident Yuzi in this series. I'm just working on my angles and in general trying to bowl more."

It would be interesting to see who compliments Chahal in the team, especially with Kuldeep Yadav and Krishnappa Gowtham offering completely different things with the ball. India plays its first game on the tour on July 13 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.  

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