Can Cricket Be Played In Shorts? Yuzvendra Chahal Says "Whenever You Slide..."

Can cricket be played wearing shorts? Yuzvendra Chahal doesn't think so. In fact, he had an emphatic "no" for an answer when a scribe alluded to suggestions that cricketers could be better off wearing half pants instead of trousers in the future, given that the game is often played in extreme heat. The "cricket in shorts" question was a googly that the leg-spinner was not expecting after India's three-run win over the West Indies in a last-ball thriller at the Queen's Park Oval, which put the visitors ahead in the three-match ODI series.

March 2022 was the hottest in India since records began more than 100 years ago but notwithstanding the sweltering weather, cricket, like always, continued to be played in the country. Chahal, one of India's leading white-ball spinners, explained why the status quo should be maintained.

"No, No. I don't agree with that (playing in shorts). Because we have to take care of our knees whenever you slide, it's very hard. My two knees are already gone, there are many bruises. I think full pants work well for us," Chahal said at the post-match press conference.

As the discussion turned to Friday's match, Chahal said bowling in tight situations in the IPL helped him immensely. And so are words of encouragement from the team management, including head coach Rahul Dravid.

"The coach always backs me. He tells me 'Yuzi just back your strengths, we trust you'...," Chahal, who gave the timely breakthrough of Brandon King (54) in the 45th over to make the job tougher for the West Indies in their stiff chase of 309, said.

"And when the coaches and management gives you that much confidence you are always ready to go and perform.

"I always back my strengths, I knew that the ball had become old and the