"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.

After making a stunning 890 runs in the IPL 2023, Gill went through a lean patch during the tour to West Indies, hitting just two fifties in 10 matches across three formats.

However, Varma impressed all with fine outings in the T20I series in the Caribbean, culminating in his maiden call-up to the India ODI side.

“(It) is this extreme talent, especially within the batting sense, that brings India to life. Gill hasn't played a lot of one-day cricket for his country yet. Tilak Varma hasn't played a game of one-day cricket for his country. But that doesn't mean they're not able to deliver.

“And this is what we've seen in the IPL. We've seen names which otherwise you'd have absolutely zero idea of, come to the IPL, not an international stage but certainly an international event, and set it alight. So, I feel very confident in the fact that Indian cricket is in good hands," Hayden told media here on the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Rating Award.

Hayden pointed out the strong character of India's middle-order to underline his point.

“When you look at