Ravichandran Ashwin Shares Amusing Story About Yuzvendra Chahal's Batting Aspirations
A Humorous Take on Chahal's Claims
Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin recently shared a funny story about spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who claimed to have scored a century during his U19 days. Ashwin recounted how Chahal would often express his desire to open the innings while they played together for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). This amusing anecdote was shared during Ashwin's appearance on JioHotstar's 'Champions Waali Commentary'.
Ashwin Questions Chahal's Power
During the show, Ashwin humorously reflected on Chahal's self-proclaimed batting skills, questioning whether he had the strength to hit the ball over the boundary. "Chahal once mentioned that he batted in his U19 days and even claimed to have scored a hundred. He insisted that if the team needed someone to step up in a tough situation, he should be sent in. But honestly, my question is simple: Where is Chahal going to find the power to clear the boundary?"
Chahal's Desire to Bat
Ashwin also recalled how Chahal frequently requested to open the batting during their time at RR. He mentioned that Chahal once urged him to remove his pads, expressing his eagerness to bat instead. "We spent three seasons together at the Rajasthan Royals. I noticed that wherever he went, he kept asking to open the batting. I remember getting ready to bat because RR often sent me up the order. But Chahal would come up and tell me to take off my pads because he wanted to go out to bat. If he faces the new ball from Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj, who will bowl for us? More importantly, he might end up injuring himself against that kind of pace," Ashwin concluded.
Chahal's Batting Record
Interestingly, Chahal has yet to score even 1,000 runs in professional cricket across all formats, with his highest score being 48 in first-class matches. Despite this, he holds the record for the most wickets in IPL history, having taken 228 wickets in 183 matches at an average of 23.18 and an economy rate of 8.03, with best figures of 5/40. For Team India, Chahal has claimed 217 wickets in 152 appearances across both limited-overs formats.