‘He Is Very Defensive In…’: Jaffer Expresses Concern On Yuzvendra Chahal’s Form

Last Updated:April 13, 2025, 10:35 IST

Yuzvendra Chahal was roped in by the Punjab Kings at the IPL 2025 mega auction for a whopping Rs 18 crore.

Yuzvendra Chahal has picked up just two wickets in five matches in IPL 2025 (Picture credit: AP)

Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has said that while some deliveries from Yuzvendra Chahal, like the one he bowled to get rid of a set Travis Head on Saturday, are the ones he is known for, his defensive mindset is ensuring that he is under pressure in IPL 2025.

Chahal has picked up just two wickets in five games with an economy rate of 11.13 till now and is in urgent need of a comeback.

Jaffer said that Chahal is under some serious pressure after his poor returns since the start of IPL 2025.

“I think the few deliveries he bowled, when he picked up Travis Head’s wicket, I think that is what we need to see Chahal bowl more often. Looking to spin the ball, looking to bowl googlies and looking to put some revs on the ball, which I think we are missing from watching Yuzi,” Jaffer said while speaking on ESPNCricinfo. 

“He is very defensive in his mindset and the pressure is pretty much visible on his face that he is off-colour,” Jaffer added.

Chahal finished with figures of 4-0-56-1 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, the most expensive spinner of the lot.

Former India cricketer Piyush Chawla agreed with Jaffer, saying that Chahal’s poor form and low confidence have led to a lack of trust in himself to bowl googlies.

“We have not seen him bowl googlies also. If you are bowling wide outside off-stump for them, then it is going away from them. So, you eventually get a chance to pick a wicket or something like that, but he did not bowl those, maybe because of lack of form if you see this season,” Chawla said.

Glenn Maxwell was welcomed with a six over extra cover and a boundary, but the real damage was felt by Chahal, who dropped Abhishek Sharma off his bowling and was later dispatched into the mid-wicket stands.

Chahal broke the stand between Abhishek and Head in the 13th over, with the latter holing out to long-on.

PBKS next face defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in Mullanpur on April 15.