Chennai, May 1 — Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who claimed a brilliant hat-trick for Punjab Kings against Chennai Super Kings, said that he trusted his skills and kept adjusting his line based on the situation to deliver his best performance.
After conceding 23 runs in his first two overs, Chahal made a strong comeback by dismissing MS Dhoni (11) and then removing Deepak Hooda (2), Anshul Kamboj (0), and Noor Ahmed (0) in quick succession to complete his second Indian Premier League (IPL) hat-trick.
Speaking in a post-match video on the IPL website in conversation with Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer, Chahal said he remained unfazed despite facing aggressive batters. He explained that he believed a wicket was likely in that over and didn't worry about conceding big hits. Instead, he focused on delivering his best and kept varying his line to adapt to the situation.
Chahal finished with figures of 4 for 32 as Chennai Super Kings were bowled out for 190 in 19.2 overs. Punjab Kings chased down the target successfully, winning the match by four wickets.
Reflecting on his turnaround after an expensive first spell, Chahal revealed he was mentally prepared to bowl the 19th or 20th over once the pacers completed their quota. He tailored his strategy accordingly and adjusted his line to match the match conditions.
Chahal, who last represented India in a T20 match in August 2023, had also taken four wickets in his previous game against Kolkata Knight Riders, reaffirming his consistent form.
Chasing 191, captain Shreyas Iyer led the Punjab innings with a composed 72 off 41 balls. Speaking after the match, he said he thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and felt he was in the zone throughout his innings.
