IPL 2025, SRH vs PBKS: Punjab Kings (PBKS) were unable to defend a massive target of 246, and the blame was partially pointed towards Yuzvendra Chahal’s ‘defensive bowling’. The experienced leg-spinner, known for his wicket-taking prowess, was pummeled by SRH’s opening batters, conceding a hefty 56 runs from just 4 overs.
Piyush Chawla, who is IPL’s second-highest wicket-taker, expressed his displeasure with Chahal’s approach during the game. According to Chawla, Chahal had no one to blame but himself for missing a key opportunity to dismiss SRH’s Abhishek Sharma, who went on to score a game-changing 141.
“Well, he created that chance [Chahal dropped Abhishek Sharma off his own bowling] and you need at least one chance, and he created that one and he has nobody [else] to blame for that,” Chawla said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show.
Chawla further added that Chahal’s bowling lacked the intensity and aggression that made him a standout bowler in previous IPL seasons. He pointed out that Chahal, instead of attacking the batters, seemed to play it safe and opted for a more defensive strategy.
“He almost reached there but apart from that… later on when both the batters [Abhishek and Travis Head] were going after him, I didn’t find that Yuzvendra Chahal which we used to see a couple of years back and even till last year. He was just not trying to get the batter out. He was just trying to toss it wide and playing more of a safe game, defensive bowling. That Yuzvendra Chahal we have not seen,” Chawla added.
Chahal has been a key figure for PBKS, but his current form in IPL 2025 has been a cause for concern. With just two wickets from five games this season, Chawla feels that Chahal isn’t utilizing his full potential, particularly when it comes to his googlies.
“I have not seen him bowling googlies also. If you’re bowling wide outside off stump for them [left-hand batters] and it’s going away from there, so you eventually get a chance to get a wicket or something like that,” Chawla said.
He also noted that Chahal has often failed to bowl his full quota of overs, which highlights his struggle with consistency this season. Chawla believes that Chahal’s defensive approach might be due to his lack of form, but he emphasized that with such a high target on the board, taking risks and attempting to get wickets would have been a better approach.
“You just want to get your four overs in and then try to pick up a wicket. But today, I felt it was the day when you have 245 runs on the board, any which way you’re going for runs, so you should better try for wickets and if you pick up those couple of wickets, then you are in the game,” Chawla concluded.
Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batter Wasim Jaffer also chimed in on the issue, calling Chahal the “puzzle to solve” for PBKS. Jaffer stressed that the team has missed the old, aggressive Chahal who used to bowl with more spin and variation.
“I think the few deliveries that he bowled when he picked up Travis Head’s wicket, that is what we need to see Yuzvendra Chahal bowl more often. You’re looking to spin the ball, looking to bowl googly, looking to put some revs on the ball, which I think we are missing from watching Yuzi. He is very defensive in his mindset and the pressure is pretty much visible on his face that, you know, he’s off colour. But you know for Punjab to become good, he’s the main puzzle that they need to solve,” Jaffer said.
Despite his disappointing performance, Chahal was able to break the opening partnership by dismissing Travis Head in the 13th over. However, with the team struggling, Chahal’s performance is sure to be under the microscope when PBKS face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 15. The experienced leg-spinner will have a point to prove in that match.
