Preity Zinta recalls first meeting with Yuzvendra Chahal as an U19 cricketer, says she always wanted him in her team

Preity Zinta penned a heartfelt note for cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal after his great performance that helped PBKS earn 16-run win over KKK.

Published on: Apr 17, 2025, 20:46:15 IST

By Santanu Das

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Actor and Punjab Kings (PBKS) co-owner Preity Zinta is a fan of Yuzvendra Chahal. She took to her Instagram account to stress on the fact that she has always been a fan of the cricketer and is glad to witness his journey over the years- from being an under-19 cricketer to now his match-winning performance against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing IPL 2025 tournament. (Also read: Preity Zinta congratulates Yuzvendra Chahal with a hug after pulling off a win over Kolkata Knight Riders. Watch)

Preity Zinta said she has been a fan of Yuzvendra Chahal over the years.

Preity lauds Yuzvendra after match win

Preity shared a throwback picture with a young Yuzvendra from years ago. Another picture had the two of them after the match, when Preity stood beside him to give him the ‘Player of the match’ award.

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A post shared by Preity G Zinta (@realpz)

In the caption, the actor summed up the journey of the cricketer over the years. She wrote, "How it started vs how it’s going ❤️

I met Yuzi during the Kings Cup in 2009 in Chandigarh. I was new to cricket & he was a young under 19 cricketer.

‘Always wanted him in our team’

Over the years I saw him flourish & became a force to reckon with in the cricket world. I loved his competitive attitude & always wanted him in our team but somehow the stars never aligned …… until now !

Our last game was a great example of why I was such a fan of Yuzi over the years & how, when the going gets tough, the tough get going 👊

I’m so happy to finally have you back where you belong @yuzi_chahal23 Always wanna see you smiling & shining 💕 Ting !"

On Tuesday, Yuzvendra gave a terrific performance. He turned the match around by taking four crucial wickets, which in turn helped PBKS earn 16-run win over KKK. The match was held at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Santanu Das
Santanu Das is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 5 years of experience, writing on films, pop culture and film festivals. He has a keen interest in writing about South Asian independent films and has covered several film festivals, including Sundance and CPH: Docx. He also brings a sharp perspective to the monthly column called The Fault in Our Stars, where he writes about a recent film/series and what stops the ‘good’ from becoming ‘great’. A gold medalist from Banaras Hindu University, Santanu completed his postgraduate studies in English from Jadavpur University. He is also a Rotten Tomatoes-certified film critic. When not watching films or speaking to celebrities, Santanu can be found reading a book. Some of his favourite films are Aparajito, Ponyo and The Double Life of Veronique. His favourite books include The Corrections, The God of Small Things and A Room of One's Own. Santanu continues to write passionately about films and celebrity culture. He brings a relatable, as well as critically informed, lens to entertainment and culture for a wide audience. Find him on LinkedIn: santanudasfilm Instagram: @santupechaRead More

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