Mohammad Kaif Questions Limited Use of Yuzvendra Chahal in IPL Match

Kaif Surprised by Chahal's Limited Overs in IPL Clash

In a recent IPL 2026 match held in Ahmedabad, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif expressed his astonishment regarding the minimal use of leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal by Punjab Kings (PBKS) during their four-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans (GT) on Sunday night.

Taking to social media platform X, Kaif raised concerns about PBKS's decision to utilize Chahal for merely one over, especially considering his reputation as one of the IPL's most accomplished bowlers. In that single over, Chahal gave away 13 runs.

Kaif highlighted Chahal's impressive record of 228 wickets in the IPL, a significant portion of which were taken during his extensive tenure with Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

"It surprises me to see the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, Yuzi Chahal, bowl just one over against GT. Remember, he has 228 IPL wickets, with 139 of those coming at the flat Chinnaswamy during his eight years with RCB," Kaif remarked.

https://x.com/MohammadKaif/status/2051033682341945440?s=20

While acknowledging that the pitch conditions might have played a role in the team's strategy, Kaif noted the grass on the surface. However, he emphasized that a bowler of Chahal's caliber should be trusted to adapt and secure wickets even in tough conditions. "Sure, the pitch had grass, but Chahal is an IPL great; he could have found ways to take wickets. Punjab needs to have more faith in him," he stated.

In the match itself, GT triumphed over PBKS by four wickets in a thrilling finish at the Narendra Modi Stadium, thanks to Jason Holder's impressive four-wicket haul and vital contributions from Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar.

PBKS managed to score 163/9 after recovering from an early collapse, largely due to a 79-run partnership between Suryansh Shedge (57) and Marcus Stoinis (40), but Holder's figures of 4/24 kept them in check.

In response, GT successfully chased down the target of 164 runs in 19.5 overs, despite losing early wickets. Sudharsan played a key role with 57 runs, while Sundar finished the match unbeaten on 40, sealing the victory with a six. This win propelled GT to sixth place with 12 points, while PBKS remained at the top of the table with 13 points.

Holder was awarded the Player of the Match (POTM) for his outstanding bowling performance, taking 4 wickets for 24 runs in 4 overs, including the scalps of PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, and Xavier Bartlett.