Kolkata: Kolkata Knight Riders spinner is convinced attack is the best form of defence for a leg-spinner in the Indian Premier League (IPL) — and his record of 109 wickets from 108 matches is the perfect proof.
The 26-year-old India star proved his class once again with four scalps in Thursday’s victory over Delhi Daredevils, and Chawla will be back to help boost champions Kolkata’s play-off hopes when they host Kings XI Punjab in a repeat of last year’s final at Eden Gardens here on Saturday.
“I always go for wickets as a leg-spinner. I never think of containing the batsmen because that does not work. The moment you think of containing the batsmen, then you become defensive,” Chawla said.
“You may go for runs as well when you bowl to take wickets, but at the same time you can only win matches by taking wickets.”
Chawla is 10th in the chase for the Purple Cap award for most wickets in the 2015 IPL with 11 wickets from 10 matches. And he will have the perfect opportunity to add to his tally against out-of-sorts Punjab.
“The season is going well for me. The good thing is I am getting wickets and whenever my captain calls me to bowl,” said Chawla, who was named man of the match against Delhi, having also scored 22 from 19 balls with the bat after being thrust up the order.
When it came to bowling, Chawla conceded 23 runs in his first spell of two overs, but he made a strong comeback and took the prized scalps of Yuvraj Singh, Kedar Jadhav and Delhi skipper J.P. Duminy.
“It’s about how strongly you come back if you go for runs in the first two overs. At that time I was planning to get some wickets. That’s the only thing through which I contain batsmen. They were taking their chances, especially against me. I knew they would look to go after me and I just needed to bowl in good areas,” he said.
The tweaker also had words of praise for fellow spinner Sunil Narine, who is back in the team after being cleared of having a suspect bowling action.
“We all know how good a bowler he is. We can all see how strongly he came back after the ups and downs. He’s a class act,” said Chawla.
On being promoted to bat at No. 4, the southpaw added: “Two leg-spinners were bowling at that time so the captain sent me in, as I am a left-hander, to take them on. But they were taken out of the attack and I kept on waiting for them.”
