Entertainer of the year 2020: Yuzvendra Chahal
A year that had more lows than highs, it was not difficult for us to spot the entertainer that kept everyone positive – sometimes even unknowingly. Yuzvendra Chahal is not your usual cricketer who just plays, takes wickets and goes back to sleep before turning up again the next day. There’s a lot that happens in between – a lot that makes Yuzi one of the most exciting entertainers of our times.
Yuzi often gives the impression that he operates on two ends of a spectrum. When on the field, he is the plotter in chief, planning the dismissals like a shrewd tactician, drawing inspiration from his chess-playing days.
And when off it, he explores different avenues to keep it all light-hearted. Just two months into the year and it all started looking grim for the world before Yuzi the entertainer swooped in and took control of the entertainment meter mostly through his social media pages.
He started with Tik Tok, blending in the newest trends with his unique style – involving even his family members at times. Then flaunting his love for mobile game PubG, indulging in it unabashedly, he allowed his fans a chance a sneak peek into his daily routine.
Extending his run of play, he would gate-crash the Instagram live of cricketers and celebs, chime in with a comment and leave everyone in splits. Then surprising one and all with his move, the leggie declared his ‘Roka’ ceremony with choreographer Dhanashree Verma– against all expectations. We did not see that coming, did we?
Game for everything
Always a game for fun, Yuzi did an instagram live on workout and fitness with RCB’s fitness expert and shared his fitness routine, while acing the rapid-fire round with witty answers.
But it was not just non-cricket stuff, why he is our entertainer of the day became evident as soon as the IPL game. He switched into the zen mode in no time, and unleased the cricketer in him.
Beginning the season with a win against Virat Kohli XI in the intra-practice game ahead of the IPL, Yuzi announced him and then did not waste time before starting to take wickets in a hurry. The leggie eventually finished the season with 21 wickets in 15 games – the most by an RCB player in the season.
Cricketers evolve, and since the evolution often stems from responsibilities, it ends up making them a lot more serious than what is required. Yuzi has evolved too and for the better but his evolution has made him only a better entertainer. He hosts fellow cricketers on his own TV program post matches, pulls their legs, surprises fans , and is a darling of everyone. Undoubtedly the most likable cricketers in the world, and that is not just because he takes bags of wickets but also because he is an expert at putting smiles on faces with whatever he does.