Chahal opens up on 'tearful' world cup exit

India’s leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal revealed that he was trying to hold back tears during his side's International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup semi-final encounter against New Zealand. The Men in Blue were eliminated from the tournament by the Kiwis in a rain-hit game which stretched for two days.

The 29-year-old stated that it was a depressing experience when he went in to bat in his first World Cup semi-final.

“It was my first World Cup, and when Mahi bhai [MS Dhoni] got out and I was going in [to bat], I was trying to hold back my tears. It was so depressing,” Chahal stated at an event in New Delhi.

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Chahal claimed that it was the first time in his career where he wanted to leave the ground immediately.

“We played so well for nine games but suddenly we were going out of the tournament. Rain wasn’t in our hands and so it won’t be right to say anything [about the interruption],” he said. “It was the first time that we really wanted to go back to the hotel as soon as possible from the ground.”

The leg-spinner expressed his desire to win a World Cup for his country and believed his side was on the right track to turn his ambitions into reality.

“I want to win at least one World Cup. I think the way we have been playing and how our team is shaping up currently, it's a positive sign. We won in New Zealand, Australia and West Indies and if we win the T20 World Cup next year, all the noise will die down,” he said.

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Chahal claimed that the Indian team has a strong bench which provides great competition for the players in the national side.

“Your job is to perform. When we [Kuldeep Yadav and him] came, we performed really well. After IPL, our bench strength has got pretty strong too. Now if the team management is trying good talent, it is good that you know that there is competition and you have to work harder. You can’t stay away from cricket," he said.