Punjab Kings’ hat-trick hero Yuzvendra Chahal revealed that he relied on his instincts and tweaked his line after observing that the pacers’ slower balls had been gripping the floor throughout their IPL conflict in opposition to Chennai Super Kings.
The leg-spinner, who conceded 23 runs in his first two overs, got here again to ship a game-changing penultimate over.
He first dismissed MS Dhoni (11) after which went on to declare the wickets of Deepak Hooda (2), Anshul Kamboj (0), and Noor Ahmad (0) — sealing his second IPL hat-trick in spectacular style.
“I knew Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) was there, so was (Shivam) Dube. But I had a feeling that I would get a wicket in this over. I didn’t think much whether they would hit me for six, I just planned to bowl my best and keep changing my lines,” Chahal stated in a post-match interplay with skipper Shreyas Iyer, in a video posted on the IPL web site.
Chahal completed with figures of 4/32 as CSK had been bowled out for 190 in 19.2 overs, slipping to a four-wicket defeat in opposition to Punjab Kings, a loss that additionally ended the five-time champions’ playoff hopes.
Asked in regards to the turnaround in his second spell after being taken for runs early on, Chahal stated he had mentally ready for the demise overs.
“I knew after the pacers end their quotas I’ll bowl the nineteenth or twentieth over, so I used to be making ready accordingly. I noticed the slower deliveries from the pacers had been gripping (fas raha tha) barely and never coming on to the bat.”
Asked if he had a specific plan for the hat-trick ball, he said: “I didn’t think of getting him out, I knew he would try to hit me and I thought it’s okay if he goes after me.”
The 34-year-old, who last played a T20I for India in August 2023, has been a standout performer this season. He had earlier taken 4/28 against Kolkata Knight Riders, a spell that saw KKR collapse to 95 all out while chasing a paltry 112.
Chasing 191, Punjab Kings clinched victory with two balls to spare, thanks to skipper Iyer’s commanding 41-ball 72.
He shared a crucial 72-run second-wicket stand with Prabhsimran Singh, who registered his second consecutive half-century.
“I was just in the zone, locked in and let the instincts take over. Trying to enjoy the challenge which was offered to me,” Iyer told Chahal in the interaction.
On Prabhsimran’s recent form, he added: “Prabh is a batter who doesn’t think much, you don’t say do this or do that. If you see his pattern in last 2-3 games, he’s grinding himself out a bit, takes his time, his shot selection has improved greatly. So you confidence from the front and we’re able to rotate the strike brilliantly.”
Published – May 01, 2025 12:32 pm IST
