IPL: Yuvendra Chahal joins Lasith Malinga in huge bowling feat

Yuvendra Chahal has been in some form in IPL 2022. The Rajasthan Royals leg-spinner has taken 22 wickets in 11 matches and is the current purple cap holder. On Saturday, against the Punjab Kings, he picked three wickets for 28 runs in four overs to help his side win by six wickets. 

During his stellar show against PBKS, Chahal equalled a bowling record by Mumbai Indians legend Lasith Malinga. The Sri Lankan is currently a coach for Rajasthan Royals. 

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Yuzvendra Chahal is the only bowler in addition to Malinga to take 20 or more wickets in four IPL seasons. The 31-year-old achieved the feat as he dismissed Punjab skipper on 15 runs. 

On the second ball of the 15th over, Agarwal cleared his front leg and lofted Chahal’s tossed up outside leg delivery only to see Jos Buttler gobble up an easy catch at long-on. The PBKS captain hit two boundaries during his 13-ball stay at the crease. 

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Malinga, who played for the Mumbai Indians since 2008, had taken more than 20 wickets in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015. Yuzi Chahal has done it in 2015, 2016, 2020 and 2022 seasons. 

Chahal on Saturday  pulled back well for RR after Jonny Bairstow had given Punjab a flying start. The leggie dismissed the Englishman and Bhanuka Rajapaksa. 

Despite Chahal’s heroics, however, Punjab Kings put a strong total of 189 for 5 against the Royals, thanks to Bairstow’s half-century (56) and Jitesh Sharma’s fiery unbeaten 38.

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However, a solid batting display, led by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 68, helped the Rajasthan Royals chase the total with two balls to spare. 

Chahal also has most wickets by RR spinner in a single season. He surpassed Shreyas Gopal, who had taken 20 in the 2019 edition of the league, to achieve the feat.