Mushtaq Ahmed advises Chahal to use crease more

Yuzvendra Chahal is among leading leg spinners in world cricket but he can be more effective with better use of crease, says former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed.

Ahmed, who has coached all around world and is currently a consultant for his native team, said India's ability to take wickets in middle-overs in limited-overs format through Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav has been a game-changer for m.

Both wrist-spinners were brought into India's limited-overs set-up following 2017 Champions Trophy. Though, of late, both Chahal and Kuldeep haven't been playing toger.

"Chahal is a very good bowler but can use crease much better. He can go wide of crease at times. You got to be smart eugh to understand pitches. If it is a flat pitch, you can bowl stump to stump," Ahmed, one of best leg-spinners Pakistan has produced, told PTI.

"If ball is gripping, you can go wide of crease because you can trouble even best of batsmen with that angle. That way your googly also doesn't turn as much as batsman expects and you end up taking a wicket."

Chahal has taken 91 wickets in 52 ODIs at 25.83 and 55 wickets in 42 T20s at 24.34. He is t a huge turner of ball but uses his variations very effectively. Ahmed also feels likes of Chahal and Kuldeep have benefitted immensely from former captain MS Dhoni's advice from behind stumps.

"You have got to be one step ahead of batsman. You should kw your field position as per batsman's strength. I always say attack with fielders, t with ball. If you understand that ory, you will always be successful," 49-year-old, who played 52 Tests and 144 ODIs, said.

"India has become a force to reckon with in all three formats as it uses its bowlers really well. Dhoni was a master at getting best out of his bowlers in limited-overs cricket and w you have Virat Kohli."

Ahmed picked Chahal, Australia's Adam Zampa and Pakistan's Shadab Khan among top leg-spinners in white-ball cricket. He also said art of leg-spin remains relevant more than ever.

"You need leg-spinners and mystery spinners in your team as y have ability to take wickets at any st of game. I see a lot of m coming through in next 10-15 years. "Most batsmen w like playing express pace but with a good leg-spinner in team, you are always in game," added member of 1992 World Cup-winning squad.