Yuzvendra Chahal, recently included in the Indian T20 World Cup squad for June, made history at the Arun Jaitley Stadium during an IPL 2024 clash against Delhi Capitals by dismissing their captain, Rishabh Pant. This pivotal wicket marked Chahal’s attainment of a remarkable milestone as the first Indian bowler to achieve 350 wickets in the shortest format of the game.
Heading into the match against Delhi Capitals, Chahal needed just one wicket to reach this landmark, and he accomplished it by dismissing Pant, who appeared to struggle against a fuller delivery, resulting in an uncharacteristically poor shot selection. Remarkably, this marked the third time Chahal had dismissed Pant in their IPL encounters.
With this significant dismissal, Chahal etched his name in the record books as the first Indian bowler to accumulate 350 wickets in T20 cricket, achieving this feat in his 301st appearance in the format. Piyush Chawla, a seasoned bowler from Mumbai Indians, trails him as the next best Indian on the list with 310 wickets. Overall, Chahal ranks 11th in the all-time list, which is topped by former West Indies cricketer Dwayne Bravo, boasting an impressive tally of 625 wickets in 574 matches. Notably, Chahal is the fifth spinner and the sixth Asian bowler to reach this milestone.
Breaking down his impressive tally of 350 wickets, Chahal has claimed 96 wickets while representing Team India, the highest by any bowler for the national side. Additionally, he has bagged 201 wickets in his IPL career, setting a new record for the most wickets by any cricketer in the league.
In the ongoing IPL 2024 tournament, Chahal has emerged as the leading spin bowler from India, scalping 14 wickets in 12 appearances. His stellar performance throughout the season not only propelled his team but also caught the attention of the selectors, earning him a spot in the Indian T20 World Cup squad. The selectors opted for spin bowlers like Chahal, anticipating the conditions likely to be encountered in the USA and the West Indies.
Reflecting on the match itself, Delhi Capitals set a challenging target of 222 runs after opting to bat first. Their innings was highlighted by a rapid 19-ball fifty from Jake Fraser-McGurk, supported by a solid knock of 65 from Abishek Porel and a blazing cameo from Tristan Stubbs, who scored 41 off just 20 deliveries. Among the Rajasthan Royals bowlers, Ravichandran Ashwin stood out with figures of 3 for 24.
