Yuzvendra Singh Chahal, fondly known as “Yuzi”, is one of India’s most talented leg-spinners. Why? Because he has consistently dominated domestic and international cricket. With his clever leg-breaks and googlies, Chahal has established himself as one of the most impressive bowlers of the modern cricket era. From representing India in chess at the junior level to becoming a great wicket-taking bowler in the IPL, his journey has been equally inspiring.
Let’s take a look at Yuzvendra Chahal’s cricket career, his statistics, records in the IPL, achievements and much more.
Born on July 23, 1990 in Jind, Haryana, Yuzvendra Chahal’s sporting journey began in a unique way. Before becoming a cricketer, he was a national-level chess player. He also represented India in the World Youth Chess Championship. However, due to financial difficulties, Chahal had to quit chess and focus on cricket, a decision that changed his life forever.
He started playing cricket for Haryana and soon started gaining popularity among the people with his sharp leg-spin. His big breakthrough came during the 2009 Cooch Behar Trophy. There, he topped the wicket-taking charts with 34 wickets, establishing himself as one of India’s brightest spin bowlers.
Chahal made his first-class debut for Haryana in 2009. He immediately caught the eye with his control and ability to swing the ball in both directions. His talent was soon recognised at the professional level when he was signed by Mumbai Indians in 2011.
Chahal made his international debut in an ODI against Zimbabwe in June 2016. His performances were so good that he became a permanent member of India’s white-ball setup. During the T20I series against England in 2017, Chahal recorded the best bowling figures by an Indian in T20Is – 6/25. His spell led to England’s collapse, and Chahal established himself as India’s go-to spinner in the shorter formats.
Over the years, Chahal has been a vital player in India’s ODI and T20I setups. He has often paired with Kuldeep Yadav to form the popular “Kulcha” spin duo. He has also been one of the consistent performers in global and bilateral series.
Chahal’s IPL story is as fascinating as his international journey. Having played for MI from 2011-2013, RCB from 2014-2021, and RR from 2022 onwards, he has grown into one of the finest bowlers of the tournament.
Chahal’s IPL highlights:
Chahal’s consistency in taking wickets makes him one of the most lethal bowlers in IPL history.
| Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODIs | 72 | 69 | 3739 | 3283 | 121 | 6/42 | 6/42 | 27.13 | 5.26 | 30.9 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| T20Is | 80 | 79 | 1764 | 2409 | 96 | 6/25 | 6/25 | 25.09 | 8.19 | 18.3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| FC | 44 | 70 | 8426 | 4438 | 127 | 6/44 | 9/99 | 34.94 | 3.16 | 66.3 | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| List A | 144 | 138 | 7134 | 5759 | 225 | 6/24 | 6/24 | 25.59 | 4.84 | 31.7 | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| T20s | 326 | 322 | 6965 | 8957 | 380 | 6/25 | 6/25 | 23.57 | 7.71 | 18.3 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODIs | 72 | 14 | 5 | 77 | 18* | 8.55 | 141 | 54.60 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| T20Is | 80 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 3* | 3.00 | 13 | 46.15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| FC | 44 | 61 | 15 | 445 | 48 | 9.67 | 1492 | 29.82 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 2 | 15 | 0 |
| List A | 144 | 53 | 24 | 314 | 24* | 10.82 | 552 | 56.88 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 27 | 0 |
| T20s | 326 | 44 | 27 | 81 | 10 | 4.76 | 151 | 53.64 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 72 | 0 |
The cornerstones of Yuzvendra Chahal’s bowling are control, courage and clever change. Not a big turner of the ball like many modern leg-spinners, Chahal makes excellent use of flight, change of pace and googly. His calm nature and ability to leave batsmen behind make him dangerous.
He has attacked the batsmen in the middle overs with an excellent T20 strike rate of 18.3. Although he is a specialist bowler, his sense of humour is as popular with his teammates as his easy-going personality.
At 35, Chahal is still showing no signs of slowing down. Fit and a great cricketing mind, he is a mainstay for Rajasthan Royals and remains a contender for India’s white-ball team. His experience and ability to adapt will make him a guiding figure for upcoming spinners across the country.
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Yuzvendra Chahal’s journey from chess legend to becoming India’s top leg-spinner is truly inspiring. His love for the game, tireless effort and intelligent bowling have made him one of the most successful spinners of the modern era. Be it in the blue of India or the pink of Rajasthan Royals, Chahal continues to spread his magic in every field.
He played his first ODI against Zimbabwe on 11 June 2016 and his first T20I against Zimbabwe on 18 June 2016. He quickly became a regular in India’s limited-overs setup.
Chahal won the Purple Cap with 27 wickets for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022. And he also became the highest wicket-taker in the history of IPL in 2023, surpassing Dwayne Bravo.
Chahal wears the number 3 jersey, which he has retained throughout his domestic, international and IPL careers. It reflects his personal preference and the lucky number he has worn since his early days.
Chahal has played for MI (2011-2013), RCB (2014-2021), and Rajasthan Royals (2022-present). His best performances have been with RCB and RR.
As of 2025, Chahal has taken over 190 wickets in the IPL, making him the highest wicket-taker in IPL history. His consistency, accuracy and wicket-taking ability set him apart from other bowlers.