IPL 2021: MI feel Piyush Chawla's experience will be useful in mentoring young spinners in squad

Chennai: Piyush Chawla’s skill-set will not only help Mumbai Indians in the pressure situation in this year’s IPL but his immense experience will also be useful in mentoring the young spinners in the squad, the defending champions said on Thursday. Mumbai Indians strengthened their spin department by adding 32-year-old Chawla to the squad at the most recent auction. “I have played with Piyush since U-19 days. And I know, he is a very attacking bowler, which is something that we wanted in our spin bowling department,” Rohit, who has led MI to record five titles, said in a video posted on the side’s official Twitter handle. “He was a good buy, to get him into our squad, one of the highest wicket-takers in the IPL. Played a lot of games in the IPL. He knows the format, he knows the oppositions, he knows the players,” added Rohit.

🗣️ "With his experience, I'm sure he'll be able to mentor all these spinners we have in the squad." - @ImZaheer

Our #OneFamily describe the qualities which Piyush Chawla will bring to our squad! 💙#MumbaiIndians #MI #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/EmJakZz7hU

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 8, 2021

The 32-year-old Chawla, on his part, said that it was great to be picked up by the holders. “I am quite happy and excited because you want to be a part of a team which is a defending champion and has done so well in the IPL, so it’s really nice,” said Chawla. Mumbai Indians Director of Cricket Operations and former India pacer Zaheer Khan said that Chawla’s experience will also help young Rahul Chahar. “We value his experience very highly. We have Rahul Chahar also in the team, who is an upcoming, young talent. The experience of Piyush Chawla is surely going to help him as well,” said Zaheer. “Piyush Chawla is not only going to bring his game or skill sets to the team, but also his wealth of experience. He has been in pressure situations (and) he has a bigger role to play. “He is going to be the senior-most spinner in the squad and with his experience, I am sure he will be able to mentor all these spinners which have in the squad and sharing those experiences has always worked,” added Zaheer. Chawla also said that it was important to have an understanding with other spinners in the squad. “I have seen Rahul (Chahar) and played cricket with Jayant (Yadav) and Krunal (Pandya), so it is very important to share each other’s experience, because there might be things which Krunal knows and I don’t. The things I know, that Rahul doesn’t know. So, it is important to develop an understanding and you can take it forward,” said Chawla. Mumbai Indians will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 14’s lung-opener on Friday.