Mumbai Indians will be facing Chennai Super Kings in their reverse fixture at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.

MI is coming off a nail-biting loss against KXIP and will be raring to go against the arch-rivals. Rahul Chahar addressed the media at the pre-match press conference.

The leg-spinner has been doing well in Dream11 IPL 2020 so far with 11 scalps. He shared his thoughts on the previous match that went down the wire, his camaraderie with Krunal Pandya in the middle, and more.

Tell us something about the last match where you played one Super Over after the other.

Chahar: "If we talk about the previous match when the Super Over began as well as in the last 2-3 overs, the pressure had gone up. We put up a great effort with the bat after losing three wickets early. Pollard and Coulter-Nile batted well. Quinton held us in the middle there. So when the result didn’t go our way despite all the hard work, we felt unhappy. But we were quite glad about the overall team effort as we didn’t give up at any point. We gave our 100 percent and didn’t let the match out of our hands. We fought till the last ball."

Last year the IPL was held at Wankhede and this time in the UAE pitches. As a spinner, what is your assessment of both the wickets?

Chahar: "If we talk about the first few matches, it seemed the wicket was similar to Wankhede. It was flat and easy for batsmen but the wicket has gradually become slow over time. So we have to make adjustments in our length. Like in Wankhede, spinners need to keep it back of a length around 5 meters but here you can bowl forward because the grounds are bigger and the pitch is slow. So you can openly bowl forward and attack the batsmen."

What is your bowling game-plan? Are you more of an attacking spinner or is your role more around restricting the run-scoring?

Chahar: "I think I can do both. First, it depends upon the match whether we’re batting or bowling first. If we’re bowling later and the run-rate is around 10, so I try to restrict the runs. It depends upon the match situation. Rohit bhaiya keeps telling me whose wicket to go after, how to bowl a particular batsman, keeps advising me in the middle. Before the match when we have team meetings, we plan how to bowl a particular batsman and what are his weaknesses."

What do you personally prefer?

Chahar: "I like to attack. The primary role of a leg-spinner is to pick wickets. You always have the instinct to attack. Even when you’re trying to restrict the run-scoring, you feel like let me try something here and get a wicket. So it comes naturally."

Krunal Pandya is a senior bowler in your team. What advice does he give you during the match?

Chahar: "If we see, he keeps outfoxing the batsmen with a yorker or something else. So whenever he comes after bowling, he tells me what we can try bowling the batsman, his weakness, he won’t be able to hit here, which area he’s looking to hit and where not to bowl him. So he keeps informing in every game."

With MI not having a spin bowling specialist coach, if you have confusion or need clarity, whom do you go to?

Chahar: "Zaheer bhaiya is the first person I go to. From last year till now, I understand whatever he says. He also understands my style of bowling. Sometimes, he even sits for an hour down here to watch my bowling and decipher any problem and what can be done. If we talk about last year, he once took me for a session separately to work upon a particular aspect which would help me perform better. He understands me, so I go to him only."

Has he brought any specific change that has brought a difference in your bowling or your psychological approach?

Chahar: "Mentally, yes. He keeps guiding me. In the beginning, when I used to bowl safe, not quite attacking. So he used to keep telling me that you’re an attacking bowler and can take wickets. So you go and attack, don’t worry if you get hit for a six. He keeps giving me confidence before every match."

Your team has experienced bowlers like Bumrah, Boult, Pattinson, and Coulter-Nile. Do you think that lessens the pressure on you?

Chahar: "Yes, it lessens. You have such good bowlers. They don’t let the pressure come on you. They also do well. If a fast bowler picks a wicket in the starting overs, then it becomes easier for us because the batsman doesn’t start attacking you immediately. So yes it becomes easier when they do well."

How do you bowl in tandem with Krunal during the match? Does the pressure built by him in the powerplay overs help you in picking wickets?

Chahar: "Yes obviously. I will talk about the Delhi match. We both had given 25 runs each. The pressure was being created from both ends but Krunal picked two wickets. Then in the next game, Krunal created pressure and I got a couple of wickets. So the partnership between us is going well. When the pressure is created on both ends, the batsman tends to make a mistake somewhere.”

You’re the second-highest wicket-taker amongst spinners currently this year. Do you think the wrist spinners have been more effective this season?

Chahar: "Maybe since the grounds are bigger, they have the freedom to bowl openly. They can give the flight. If a leg-spinner gives flight, it’s difficult to hit him compared to other spinners. So yes, since they can bowl openly plus the grounds are bigger, they’ve been successful."

It’s often believed in Mumbai Indians that whenever a new player comes in, the second season is more challenging for him than the first one. How has your journey been?

Chahar: "The journey has been good so far. In the first season, the batsmen or bowlers don’t know your strengths, weaknesses, or anything. But in the second season, everyone reads you and come. They watch videos of what you’ve been bowling at in what situation, what’s your thinking, so the second season is tough. You also have to be smart enough to read about the batsman in the other seasons, how he bats, or what areas does he hit his shots. You should also remember what were your plans last year since he might be prepared for it, so I can do that. It is a mind game whoever wins."

How important is data analysis for you in all this?

Chahar: "Of course, it’s very advantageous. Like DJ, we have an app where you can find the weakness of any batsmen. If you just want to find particularly about how he bats against leg-spinners, that is also readily available. In our meeting, we’re told which batsman has what weakness and plan accordingly in the night. So yes, it’s quite helpful."