Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav have made solid
impacts as spinners under the leadership of former India captain MS Dhoni. They
also gave credit to Dhoni for the success they enjoyed. Dhoni’s inputs from
behind the stumps made their tasks a lot easier.

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Speaking to veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on his
YouTube channel, Chahal recalled a T20I match in 2018 where he conceded 64 runs
against South Africa. He said that Dhoni came to him and lifted his confidence
during the tough spell against the Proteas.

“Once, I got hit for 64 runs in a T20I against
South Africa in 2018; (Heinrich) Klaasen had smashed me all over the park. Then
Mahi (Dhoni) bhai had asked me to come around the wicket. I did exactly that
but he hit me for a six over the biggest boundary at mid-wicket. Then Mahi bhai
came to me and I said, ‘Yes Mahi bhai, what should I do now?’. He said
‘Nothing, I just came to you randomly,” Chahal said.

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“He said: ‘I know it’s not your day, you are
trying but it isn’t happening. Don’t think too much, just finish your four
overs and chill,'” Chahal added.

It was then Chahal understood that it is not always
possible to perform to the best of his abilities.

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“If someone scolds you at that time, your confidence
goes down even further. But he told me that it’s just one match as you did so
well in ODIs. I also realized that in cricket sometimes you do well and
sometimes you don’t,” he stated.

Chahal, who has been in and out of the Indian team in
recent times, will look to cement his place in the team during the three-match
ODI series in Ahmedabad, starting on February 6.

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The leg-spinner made his India debut in 2016 against
Zimbabwe in an ODI.