My strength is to bowl to take wickets and that is why I am in the team: Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal PicAFPYuzvendra Chahal developed a knack of trading wickets for runs while playing IPL games on a bowlers graveyard like Chinnaswamy Stadium which is now proving to be handy during Indias ongoing ODI series against South Africa Chahal has picked seven wickets in the first two ODIs including his maiden fivefor in the second game The Haryana bowler asserted that the skipper and team management back him to go for wickets in the middle overs and he doesnt mind being hit for a few runsI go for wickets and I flight the ball I know it can go for six too but when your captain and your team management back you it gives you the confidence to do it I have played in Bangalore for RCB on flatter wickets than this so you have to play to your strengths here said Chahal after his man ofthematch display on Sunday If you worry about the batsmen or their stature then you cannot play to your strengths This is a routine for me In IPL too I have gone for 40 runs in 4 overs But even then I feel that I have been hit on good balls I dont bowl to escape with cheap economy My strength is to bowl to take wickets and that is why I am in the team he added Chahal took careerbest 522 as South Africa were once again routed in the second ODI at Centurion He shared eight wickets with Kuldeep Yadav as the Proteas were bowled out for 118 runs their lowest ODI score on home soilThe duo came on to bowl after the first 10 overs and triggered South Africaiquests collapse after they were placed at 511 at one stage Whenever Kuldeep or I come on to bowl we only think about taking wickets We are in the team to take wickets in middle overs We dont mind giving away 6570 runs in 10 overs but if we can take 23 wickets thatiquests more helpful from our point of view If we take wickets in middle overs then you will see the opposition is under pressure Chahal said Though he has toured South Africa with India A Chahal said he doesnt worry about the conditions Last year we toured South Africa as part of the IndiaA team It was winter time here then but we had a little idea how the grounds are and how the wickets play Obviously you also see videos and matches nowadays so you get an ideaI have bowled in Bengaluru thats at a higher altitude and the grounds here at a higher altitude too so its a similar situation But Kuldeep and I only think about what is controllable and in our hands We dont worry about conditions or pitches too much he said Talking about his fivewicket haul Chahal said the wicket of JP Duminy gave him most pleasure and that the key was to vary the pace I think Duminys wicket was the best of all five because he is a lefthander I have played with him in the IPL and he can change his game towards the end overs So it was our plan to bowl slower to him and it worked Whilst playing on flat tracks you have to vary your pace You cannot bowl at one pace Or the batsmen will get used to it We are bowling the way we bowl in India We are just bowling to our strengths and we are reading the pitches very well he added This is the first major overseas tour for both Chahal and Yadav They have previously toured Zimbabwe 2016 and West Indies 2017 respectively but facing South Africa in South Africa was expected to be a greater challenge for them So far they have taken 13 out of 20 wickets in two matches between them When asked about how they have adapted to these overseas conditions Chahal replied Playing on these grounds and wickets you have to bowl a little slowerThe grounds are small and they have big hitters As spinners you cannot bowl faster otherwise they will play you as medium pacers There are times when we have to bowl fast but that depends on the situation There is also bounce available on these pitches If you bowl fast the ball wont turn and it will come on to the bat Thats why Kuldeep and I vary our pace because you woniquestt get the turn you get in India The ball wont turn from under the batSo you have to keep the ball away from the bat so that it gets time to turn Also you can then use the bounce on these pitches Batsmen who dont use their feet you have to keep the ball a little bit away from them Kuldeep and I discussed to bowl either right up or back of a length he addedLast but not the least Chahal spoke about the influence of both Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni who have been instrumental in guiding the two leg spinners in their short careers Virat bhai tells us it doesnt matter if we are hit for a six but we must bowl to our strength If your strength is to pitch it up then go for it When your captain tells you that you dont have to worry even if you have been hit for two or three sixes you get confidence said Chahal From behind the stumps Mahi bhai MS Dhoni always keeps advising you He knows what the batsman is going to try It makes it easier for us he signed offCatch up on all the latest sports news and updates hereDownload the new midday Android and iOS apps to get updates on all the latest and trending stories on the go