Combinations the key for India: Chahal
After edging the West Indies 1-0 in the two-Test series as part of the World Test Championship, India went on to claim a 2-1 series win in the ODIs, building towards a home Cricket World Cup campaign.
Attention for the moment has turned to the five-match T20I series across Trinidad, Guyana and the USA (Lauderhill, Florida), where the team in the shortest format too needs to gel, given an ICC Men's T20 World Cup in the region will be played out next year.
Chahal made his mark in the first T20I, removing openers Brandon King and Kyle Mayers to finish with figures of 2/24 after missing out on selection during the 50-over leg.
The 33-year-old insists he hasn't thought too far ahead on a personal front given the imminent Asia Cup and World Cup campaigns (both ODI competitions), instead focusing on the importance of finding the ideal XI, irrespective of if he fits in.
“At No.7 we generally play Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel. Three spinners can only play if the wickets are spin friendly.
"Kuldeep is bowling really well, he is in a great rhythm and that’s why team is backing him. I keep working on nets so that whenever I get the chance I will grab it.
“Team combination is our priority and it is not something new."
India fell by four runs against the hosts in Trinidad, unable to chase 150 on the slow Tarouba surface, curtailed by the hosts' wily pace attack, who claimed six of the tourists' wickets.
Chahal believes better is to come in the T20Is in Guyana, even with limited knowledge of conditions in Providence.
“We lost by four runs but we played good cricket. We will bounce back in the second match.
"Last time when I was here (in Providence) in 2019, it was washed out. I have watched a couple of CPL matches but that’s completely different. We will look at the wicket and how it’s going to play.
“We still got four matches to play. I think we must also give credit to West Indies because they played better cricket (in the first match).
"It is all about who perform better on the given day."