Yuzvendra Chahal has had a storied career as a sportsman. At 31 years old, this talented leg-spinner plays for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and represents India in both T20Is and ODIs. What many don’t know is that Chahal was an international chess player before switching to cricket as a teenager. In addition, he made history by taking 6 wickets in T20I cricket – the first Indian and second player ever to do so! An all-rounder who is capable both on and off the field, Chahal’s work ethic speaks of an accomplished athlete, who puts his all into every game he plays.
Here are 7 Interesting Facts You Should Know About Yuzvendra Chahal
1.Yuzvendra Chahal was born on 23 July 1990 in Jind district, Haryana, to KK Chahal and Sunita Devi. His father played cricket at the university level and was an advocate in Jind. From a young age, Yuzvendra had an affinity for both chess and cricket as his father introduced him to sports when he was 7 years old. He learned the ins and outs of chess by playing against a computer. He lives with his father, mother, and wife Dhanashree Verma.
2.Young Chahal’s sporting path started with chess, where he achieved prominent success; indeed, in 2002 he took the title of Under-12 national champion and went on to represent India in the Asian Youth Championship (Under 12 category) at Kozhikode the following year, where he ranked among the top 20 contenders. He was also a part of the Indian U-16 chess team, playing for India at the World Youth Championships in Greece. Perhaps most impressive is that Chahal is the only player to have represented India in both cricket and chess – an extraordinary feat! His FIDE rating stands at 1946 points.
3.Chahal had the benefit of a supportive family, especially his father , as he pursued his dreams. Finding sponsorship for chess became difficult, so Chahal shifted his focus to cricket and was soon gaining attention. During the National Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy in 2009, Chahal claimed 34 wickets and became the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. From hereon, his talent began to shine in the cricket world.
4.In 2009, Chahal made his first-class debut for Haryana. He was then signed by Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 2011 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) but didn’t get any playing time that season. However, he got an opportunity to play for MI in their Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) final match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Despite defending a low target of 139, Chahal performed excellently and conceded only nine runs while taking two wickets in three overs.
5.After joining the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad in 2014, Chahal made an immediate impression with 12 wickets in 14 games. His impact was even greater the following season—he took the most wickets for RCB and became IPL 2015’s third highest-wicket-taker overall. This form continued in 2016; he took 21 wickets in 13 matches and was named Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. After a 7-year stint with RCB, Chahal was picked up by Rajasthan Royals during 2022’s mega auction and took home the Purple Cap for his performance last year.
6.Chahal was called up to the Indian squad for their Zimbabwe tour after impressing in IPL 2016. He took six wickets over three ODIs at an average of 12.83 and three wickets over two T20Is. His most impressive performance came in the second ODI, when he took three wickets for 25 runs, with two maidens over his spell of six overs – Vusi Sibanda, Sikandar Raza, and Elton Chigumbura, unfortunately, fell prey to his bowling.
7.Chahal is a vibrant and playful individual, often at the center of funny moments. He enjoys some healthy competition in cricket and chess but also likes to kick back and join in on some football action. He’s an avid movie buff who loves Katrina Kaif’s beautiful smile, and dreams of going on a date with her someday! As for soccer, Chahal is a Real Madrid fan, with Cristiano Ronaldo being his favorite footballer.