New Delhi: India's leading spinner Yuzvendra Chahal on Saturday said 2019 World Cup defeat was a bitter pill to swallow and it was tough for him to control his emotions after teams' ouster in semi-final against New Zealand.
While speaking at India Today Mind Rocks Youth Summit 2019 in the national capital, Chahal said, ''It was my first World Cup and when Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) got out and I was going to bat, it was tough for me to to hold back my tears''.
Since the World Cup, Chahal has played a lone ODI match and has been kept away from the T20I along with his partner Kuldeep as Indian team management and selectors have been trying to test the bench strength for next year's T20 World Cup.
At present, the team management is giving opportunities to spinners of the likes of Washington Sundar and Krunal Pandya, R Jadeja who can also bat at the lower order. Talking about his selection in the team, Chahal said, ''My job is to perform, when Kuldeep and me came in the team, we performed well to earn a place in the team.''
''After IPL, our bench strength has got pretty strong too. Now if the team management is trying good talent, it is good to know that there is competition and you have to work harder,'' Chahal added.
The leggie also expressed that he want to be part of World Cup winning team and he will work hard for the upcoming T20 World Cups in 2020 and 2021." I want to win at least one World Cup. I think the way team has been shaping up currently, its a positive sign.
We won in New Zealand, Australia and West Indies and if we win the T20 World Cup next year, it will be a great thing for Indian cricket,'' Chahal said.During the event, Chahal also recalled his best memory of picking six wickets in a ODI against Australia in 2018.
Prasing captain Virat Kohli, Chahal said that skipper is very determined and the way he makes difficult things looks easy, it's inspiring.(UNI)