Former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan warned the selectors, citing Yuzvendra Chahal’s exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad as a potential concern.
As the IPL 2024 unfolds, discussions surrounding India’s T20 World Cup squad selection gain momentum. With only 11 pre-IPL matches to assess players, selectors prioritize IPL performances. Despite Yuzvendra Chahal’s impressive T20 record, he’s yet to feature in a T20 World Cup, facing setbacks in previous editions.
In 2021, Chahal lost his spot to Rahul Chahar, and in 2022, he warmed the bench as India crashed out in the semi-finals.
Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan, speaking on Star Sports Press Room, reminisced about the heart-wrenching loss that left Rohit Sharma’s team devastated. Pathan had advocated for Yuzvendra Chahal’s inclusion in the playing XI for the semi-finals during the last World Cup, but it never materialized.
Expressing his desire for a robust bowling unit, Pathan emphasized the necessity of a wrist spinner like Kuldeep Yadav alongside Jadeja. However, he hinted that Chahal might face exclusion again due to the team’s composition needs.
“In the last World Cup in Australia, I kept suggesting Chahal’s inclusion in the playing XI for the semis, when commentators from all over the world were around. But it never happened,” Pathan answered a News18 query.
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“What I want from Team India is to have a proper bowling unit. A wrist spinner is a must in the playing XI, especially when you go to the World Cup. So, Kuldeep Yadav is in great form. You’ll have Jadeja as a left-arm spinning all-rounder because you need two spinners. So, Chahal might miss out again. Because you will obviously think whether you are going to take two fast bowlers or you’re going to take three spinners. But, if a guy like Chahal who is a wrist spinner is not there in the Indian team, we’re going to have a similar result to what we had before,” he added,
The BCCI faces a tough decision, needing to select only two from this talented pool for the tournament set to take place in the West Indies and USA starting June 1st.
Last Updated on April 17, 2024
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