Yuzvendra Chahal Gets 'Googly' Again: Leg-spinner Set To Miss Out On Playing 3 ICC Events In 3 Years

22.08.2023 - 14:07 sports.ndtv.com

It's another ICC event on the horizon and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has once again fallen out of favour with the Indian team selectors.

Chahal was a big name missing from the Asia Cup squad announced on Monday but India skipper Rohit Sharma has left the door slightly ajar for the 33-year-old for the subsequent ODI World Cup at home in October-November.

The wily operator, who was once India's go to bowler in the middle overs, finds himself in familiar territory as another World Cup beckons.

Chahal was controversially excluded from the 2021 T20 World Cup before returning for the 2022 edition in Australia, where he did not get a game as finger spinners were preferred in the playing eleven.

cricket India Cricket Team World Cup 2023 Asia Cup 2023 on Rohit Sharma Asia Cup Kuldeep Yadav Yuzvendra Chahal Australia Washington India

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has shared his views on Yuzvendra Chahal's exclusion from the World Cup squad. The veteran leg-spinner failed to make the cut for the tournament as the Indian team management gave preference to Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. The 33-year-old has been in and out of the side over the last two years or so. He was part of the T20 World Cup squad last year but did not play a single game Down Under as India crashed out of the tournament in the semi-final.

Where Can India Improve Ahead Of ICC World Cup 2023? Dinesh Karthik Points Out Two Key Areas

The ICC World Cup 2023 is just round the corner and veteran Indian cricket team star Dinesh Karthik believes that the Rohit Sharma-led side has a couple of key areas where they may still need to improve. In a recent interaction, Karthik was asked about India's chances in the World Cup and he made it clear that they first need to use the upcoming Asia Cup as an opportunity to make the final tweaks to the team composition. When asked about the exact places which need fine tuning, he spoke about the fast-bowling options and the dilemma surrounding the middle-order batting.

"Must Be Tough...": Australia Great On Yuzvendra Chahal's 'Big' Asia Cup 2023 Snub

Former Australian cricket team opener Matthew Hayden called Yuzvendra Chahal's exclusion from India's Asia Cup 2023 squad 'big' and pointed out how tough it mush have been for the selectors considering they had another good option in Kuldeep Yadav. “There're some big omissions. Chahal in particular, that leg-spinner is such a superb player and (it) must be tough for the selectors because they've also got another one in Kuldeep (Yadav).... he's a superb player. So, they've gone for that as an option,” Hayden said. The explosive opener also backed young players Shubman Gill and Tilak Varma to make the opportunity count after they were named in India's squad for the Asia Cup.

Watch: Ravichandran Ashwin Impressed By Bowler Running Out Non-Strike Batter, Sparks Debate

India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has often been subjected to unfair criticism for running out batters at non-striker's end for backing up too far, reignited the debate on the mode of dismissal. On Monday, Ashwin posted a video on social media in which a bowler run outs the batter at non-striker's end -- a dismissal that is still a matter of debate despite it not coming under cricket's 'unfair play' anymore. "Winning dismissal," wrote Ashwin on X, formerly known as Twitter, with a laughing emoji. "More awareness and mindfulness required towards the closing stages of a game," he added.

'Being Submissive Can Be Harmful...": Dhanashree Verma's Cryptic Post Has Internet Talking About Yuzvendra Chahal's Asia Cup Snub

The announcement of Team India's squad for the upcoming Asia Cup came as yet another disappointment for Yuzvendra Chahal as the veteran leg-spinner got overlooked once again. The 33-year-old spinner was not included in the 17-member squad which was announced on Monday by skipper Rohit Sharma and BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar. After his snub from the team, Chahal took to social media and shared a rising sun emoticon, expressing a positive outlook. However, his wife Dhanashree Verma shared a cryptic post, which has created a stir on social media, with some users relating it to Chahal's Asia Cup snub.

Watch: Ravichandran Ashwin Impressed By Bowler Running Out Non-Strike Batter, Sparks Debate