RCB first preference but I’m ready to go to any team: Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal, who is expected to be one of the most sought-after players in the forthcoming IPL auction set to take place in 10 days’ time, claimed that, personally, he would love to return to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for yet another stint, but asserted that he would be ready to go to any franchise. 

Historically one of RCB’s best performers in the franchise’s history, Chahal was not retained by the Royal Challengers, with the franchise opting to leave the fourth retention slot empty. 

With no ‘Right to Match (RTM)’ option available at the auction this time around, Chahal stated that he is ready to embrace a brand new challenge if need be.

"The journey for eight years [with Royal Challengers] has been memorable. There is no right to match [which the franchise used to retain him in 2018] this time, so I will go to whoever pays the most for me. This is the first time where I might end up going to another team because there is no right to match. I am ready to go to any team. As a professional player, you should be ready to play for any team,” Chahal told Ashwin in an interview on the latter’s Youtube channel.

"Obviously, I want to go to RCB again. But I won't feel bad if I go somewhere else. All of them have to build new teams. Whoever takes me, I have no problem. I will continue to give my 100%. But yes, when you go to a new franchise, it takes a little time to adjust. But that's why we call ourselves professional players."

The leg-spinner, who was bought by RCB for INR 6 crore in the 2018 auction (via RTM), recalled how he was always confident that he would be snapped up by the Bangalore-based franchise, no matter how high the bid was.

“….then in 2018, they picked me in the right to match [card]. I was in South Africa at that time.

"Kuldeep [Yadav] and I were watching the auction together. My name came at No. 9 and his came at No. 10. I was nervous about how much I would get. But I was confident they would buy me back with the RTM card [which Chahal said the franchise had told him]. So I was very happy to get back to RCB."

The 31-year-old  endured his breakthrough season in 2015, where he picked a staggering 23 wickets, and did not look back after that, becoming the most reliable bowler for RCB. The leg-spinner recalled how former head coach Dan Vettori’s advice helped him crack the success code and turn out to be an invaluable asset for the franchise.

"I didn't have much experience [in 2014], and I had watched even very good spinners getting hit at that ground. Then Vettori sir told me, 'This is a small ground, as you know, so you have to go for wickets. If you give 30 runs in four overs, I want one wicket. If you go for 35 runs, I am happy with two wickets. If you go for 40, make sure you get three wickets.' So I realised the importance of wickets on that ground.

"I asked him if I should stick to my strengths - I flight the ball, I vary my pace. He said, 'Yes, go for that.' I realised after the season that if you get a wicket, you get three-four dot balls after that." 

Chahal became a white-ball regular for India 2017 onwards, and he credited RCB for his international success. 

 "I think it's all because of RCB. They gave me a platform to prove myself," Chahal said. "And once my journey started, when I got confidence as a bowler… I had played only a few Ranji Trophy matches [until then], but doing well in the IPL gave me confidence that I would be able to survive in this league."