IPL 2025: Wasim Jaffer questions Yuzvendra Chahal’s form after PBKS loss to SRH

Former Indian Test opener Wasim Jaffer feels Yuzvendra Chahal’s poor form in the ongoing IPL 2025 is a concern for Punjab Kings. The veteran leg-spinner has picked only two wickets in five matches and has conceded his runs at a high economy rate of 11.13.

Chahal returned with expensive figures of 1-56 in the four overs he bowled against Sunrisers Hyderabad, as PBKS suffered a eight-wicket loss at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Chahal returned with figures of 0-34 while making his debut for PBKS and he was also not backed by captain Shreyas Iyer when Devon Conway and Shivam Dube were batting during the match against CSK.

“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 said on ESPN Cricinfo.

On the other hand, former Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla said Chahal is not bowling many googlies and doesn’t have confidence under his belt.

“We have not seen him bowl googlies either. 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 ESPN Cricinfo.

Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma took the PBKS bowlers to the cleaners, playing a magnum opus knock of 141 runs off just 55 balls with the help of 14 fours and 10 sixes.

Punjab Kings will next take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh on Tuesday.