Yuzvendra Chahal is currently the leading wicket-taker in the IPL history with 187 scalps to his name in 145 IPL games. He has one five-wicket haul, 6 four-wicket hauls, and several match-winning or match-turning spells under his belt.
Although now he’s been with the Rajasthan Royals for the last two IPL seasons, it was during his time at RCB from 2014 to 2021 that he became a world-class leg-spinner and broke into the Indian team.
Yuzvendra Chahal and RCB were one of the strongest, most successful player-franchise associations in the IPL history. He took 139 wickets for RCB in the 8 seasons he spent there. However, that association was unceremoniously, and quite shockingly broken ahead of the IPL 2022 mega-auction where RCB didn’t retain Chahal, even though the could have as they retained only three players – Kohli, Maxwell, and Siraj.
While there were rumors that Yuzvendra Chahal had asked for more money than the retention bracket allowed, the leg-spinner, at the time of those rumors and still, denies such fishy talks.
Yuzvendra Chahal recently opened up on how he felt when RCB not only released him, but also there was no proper communication to him. Such a treatment from RCB was not expected by the leg-spinner who added so much to the franchise’s success.
“Definitely, I felt very sad. My journey started with RCB. I spent eight years with them. RCB gave me a chance, and I got an India cap because of them,” Chahal said on YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadiya’s podcast.
“From the very first match, Virat bhaiya showed me trust. So, it felt bad, because it almost feels family when you spend 8 years at a team.
“A lot of rumours came in, like I asked for huge amount of money. I clarified at the time that there wasn’t anything like that. I know what I deserve,” he said.
No phone call. At least have a talk: Yuzvendra Chahal on RCB’s treatment
“What I felt really bad about was there was no phone call, no communication. At least have a talk.
“I had played 114 matches for them. In auction, they promised me that they will go all-out for me. I said, fine.
“When I wasn’t picked there, I was very angry. I gave them 8 years. Chinnaswamy was my favourite ground. I didn’t talk to RCB coaches. The first match I played against them, I didn’t talk to anyone,” he added.
Playing for RR further allowed Chahal to add death bowling skills to his bow.
“I realise the auction is a very unpredictable place. So, I made peace with the fact that whatever happens, happens for good. At RR, I started bowling at death. Often, my quota would be completed before 16 overs in RCB. So, I think I grew as a cricketer in RR as well. So, whatever happened, happened for good,” said Chahal.
