'Pressure is visible on his face' - Wasim Jaffer on Yuzvendra Chahal's IPL 2025 performance

Yuzi Chahal. (Photo Source - BCCI)

Former India opener  feels that Yuzvendra Chahal needs a shift in his mindset to get back to his wicket-taking self. His comments came after Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) displayed a chasing masterclass against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad in match 27 of the 2025 IPL.

Chasing a daunting target of 246, SRH openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head launched an staggering assault on the PBKS bowling attack as the hosts reached the target in 18.3 overs. On the bowling front, PBKS struggled to find any control and most of their bowlers appeared helpless, managing to pick up just two wickets.

Leg-spinner , who was secured by PBKS for a whopping INR 18 crore in the November auction last year, claimed the wicket of Travis Head. However, the breakthrough came too late. The highest wicket-taker in IPL history, has been underwhelming this season, having only two wickets in five games. Against SRH too, he ended up conceding 56 runs in his four overs. Jaffer pointed out the 34-year-old appeared more defensive than attacking and noted the visible pressure on the face during his spell.

“I think the few deliveries he bowled, when he picked up Travis Head's wicket, I think that is what we need to see Chahal bowl more often. Looking to spin the ball, looking to bowl googlies, looking to put some revs on the ball, which I think we are missing from watching Yuzi. He is very defensive in his mindset, and the pressure is pretty much visible on his face that he is off-color," Jaffer told ESPNcricinfo.

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Need to bowl more googlies: Piyush Chawla

Former Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla also weighed in on Chahal’s dip in form this season, highlighting that the Haryana leggie has not been using his googly as frequently, which has significantly affected his wicket-taking ability. He further added that the lack in form and confidence seems to be the reason behind his reluctance to bowl the googly.

"We have not seen him bowl googlies also. If you are bowling wide outside off-stump for them, then it is going away from them. So, you eventually get a chance to pick a wicket or something like that, but he did not bowl those, maybe because of lack of form if you see this season," Piyush Chawla said on ESPNcricinfo.

Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma was the star of the match, hammering a record 141 off just 55 balls. The Australian played a solid supporting role with a quickfire 66. The duo stitched an opening partnership of 171-run stand, which laid the foundation for the chase.