Zaheer Khan clarifies why MI bought Piyush Chawla

Former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan is thrilled to have Piyush Chawla in MI's squad this IPL season. Mumbai Indians’ Director of Cricket Operations believes that younger spinners like Rahul Chahar can benefit from having a veteran leg-spinner like Piyush Chawla in the team. Mumbai Indians acquired Piyush Chawla for ₹2.4 crores in the IPL mini-auction that was held in February. Buying Piyush Chawla in the auctions raised a few questions, considering the veteran just scalped six wickets in the last season. Speaking to MI’s YouTube channel, Zaheer Khan stated that in addition to performing well on the field, Piyush Chawla also has a significant role to play behind the scenes at MI.

Despite having Rahul Chahar in the team, Mumbai Indians thought of roping in another spinner. The 21-year-old spinner has been a revelation for the franchise since making his debut in 2017. The youngster has so far picked up 30 wickets at an economy of 7.46. Many cricket experts and fans believe that Piyush Chawla’s presence could hamper Chahar’s development. However, Zaheer Khan stated how he expects the young spinner to learn from the experienced player. The former Indian pacer also accepted that Piyush Chawla’s proficiency in the powerplay made the team splash the cash on the 32-year-old.

Piyush Chawla was an excellent buy for MI: Rohit Sharma

Sharma also feels that veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla was an excellent buy as his team needed an attacking wrist spinner. The Indian opener clarified how Piyush Chawla perfectly fits the profile of an attacking spinner. He also admitted that it was something the five-time IPL champions were searching for ahead of IPL 2021. Chawla could turn out to be a wise buy for the MI as they begin their bid for a third consecutive IPL title. With 156 wickets to his name, Chawla has been around for quite a long time and also knows the rules.

Mumbai Indians is going to play nine games on turning tracks in Chennai and Delhi. Thus, Piyush Chawla will give the franchise an added option when they take to the field. Mumbai Indians have retained their core team ahead of IPL 2021, and they will undoubtedly start the season as favourites. The tournament will begin from April 9 to May 30. The first game is between Rohit Sharma-led MI and Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore.

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