'Yuzvendra Chahal showed why leg-spinners are considered match-winners': Lasith Malinga

Not only did Yuzvendra Chahal pick a hat-trick during the game against Kolkata, but he also went to take a sensational fifer

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Daniel S
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Lasith Malinga and Yuzvendra Chahal

Lasith Malinga and Yuzvendra Chahal (Source: BCCI/IPL)

The game between Rajasthan and Kolkata turned out to be a memorable one for Yuzvendra Chahal. Not only did the leggie pick a hat-trick, but he also went to take a sensational fifer. His spell turned out to be the difference between the two sides. Thus, Rajasthan won the game by seven runs.

This enabled Chahal to win the player of the match award as well. Besides, his recent form has been superb. As a matter of fact, Chahal is currently the leading wicket-taker of the 2022 edition. He has picked 17 wickets in just six games.

He has played an influential role in Rajasthan's victories in the 2021 edition. Thus, their bowling coach Lasith Malinga showered heaps of praises on the spinner. He was impressed with Chahal's skills. Further on, Malinga even stated that the leggie showed how why leg-spinners are considered match-winners in the Indian T20 league.

"Chahal has more international experience. He is the most experienced leg-spinner in the country and in this tournament. He showed how to control the skill. That's more important for him going forward to prove he is good enough to play any competitive cricket.

Leg-spinners have more wicket-taking options and he showed today how he can get wickets and changed the game in a single over. I think he showed all the leg-spinners that they are the match-winning bowlers in this competition," said Lasith Malinga during the post-match presentation.

In the meanwhile, Chahal spoke about his tactics on Monday. After winning the player of the match award, he stated that his googly was coming out well. An important point to be noted is that his fifer against Kolkata was his first five-wicket haul in the Indian T20 league.

"I had to take wickets in this match to change the result. I worked on my bowling. I spoke to the coaches and the skipper. I was thinking of a googly but then I didn't want to take a chance. Would have been a happy with a dot ball as well on my hat-trick ball. My googly was coming out well and sent it down to Venkatesh Iyer," said Yuzvendra Chahal.

Indian Premier League 2023 Yuzvendra Chahal Rajasthan