Rajasthan Royals wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal became the only second bowler in IPL to achieve a significant record.
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Rajasthan Royals leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has bowled like a dream at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. He is, in fact, the leading wicket-taker in the IPL 2022 with 22 scalps to his name and looks in a strong position to take the purple cap home this season. It has also made a strong case for him to be included in the Team India squad for the T20 World Cup in October after being in and out of the national team throughout the last year due to his inconsistent run.
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Chahal continued his fine run for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2022 match against Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Saturday. He picked up the big wickets of Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Mayank Agarwal and Jonny Bairstow and turned out to be the standout performer of his franchise. He also achieved a significant record in the process as the premier India wrist-spinner became the second player to claim 20 or more wickets in four seasons of the IPL. Only Sri Lanka great Lasith Malinga had achieved the feat in the nine seasons that he played in the IPL.
Chahal picked up the first hat-trick of IPL 2022 for Rajasthan Royals in the clash against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Brabourne Stadium. The incident took place in the 17th over of the match when KKR were cruising in the mammoth chase of 218 runs against RR. Chahal, incidentally, picked up four wickets in the over.
KKR all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer was the first victim for Chahal as he showed his cards early and a well-anticipated googly from the wrist-spinner saw him being stumped by RR captain and wicket-keeper Sanju Samson. His second victim was the dangerous looking Shreyas Iyer. Chahal caught him plumb in front of the stumps as the KKR captain looked to work the ball across the line but failed to pick up the length. The leg-spinner, then, sent packing tailender Shivam Mavi who looked to go over the long-on but the ball ended up in the safe pair hands of young Riyan Parag. It was the second consecutive wicket for Chahal in the fifth delivery of the 17th over.
Chahal completed his hat-trick in his final delivery of the ball as Australia all-rounder Pat Cummins edged a lovely leg-spinner which ended up into the gloves of Samson behind the stumps. The hat-trick helped Chahal register his first five-wicket haul in the IPL. He had earlier missed out on a hat-trick in the clash between RR and MI.
