OTD: Birthday of India spin wizard Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal turns 34 today. On this day, 23 July, 1990, he was born. Chahal's career remained as an inspiring story. During his student days, he wanted to be a chess player, and he was on his way to find his destiny with the checkered board. But the sponsorships dried up, and he found his way to cricket.

The Haryana-born had by then pushed himself for the World Youth Chess Championship for India, and then the turnaround. From the board game to the cricket field. During his early days in the cricket field, he was not among those who could be called brilliant.

 Despite an inconsistent domestic career with Haryana, Chahal was signed by the Mumbai Indians for the 2011 IPL. Chahal's cricket career got an extra boost after he joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). With the RCB, his cricket career took off. He was their top wicket-taker in 2015 and 2016.

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Chahal always up to surprise opponents 

After producing stunning numbers in back-to-back seasons, BCCI selectors could not avoid the spinner and named him in the Team India squad; Chahal made his way into India's limited-over squad. There he made his mark quickly and became one of the reliable spinners in Blue's at a certain point. He became the first Indian bowler to take a five-for in a T20I, and his 6-wicket haul (6 for 25) against England was also the best bowling figures in a T20I by an Indian. It was the time when most white-ball spinners gradually depended on variations with the speed; Chahal, on the other hand, did not hesitate to offer extra guile and flight in his deliveries, which proved effective. 

The spin wizard's stats got some more decorations when he became the leading wicket-taker in the 2022 IPL for Rajasthan Royals. Next season, he went past Dwayne Bravo to become the IPL's leading wicket-taker.