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Yuzvendra Chahal, one of the top spinners in India in the last decade, was omitted from the national squad recently for the ODI World Cup 2023, which will be played in its entirety in the country. The 33-year-old finally opened up about the decision of the team management and selectors by saying that he is used to getting dropped from the Indian setup now.
For the unversed, Yuzvendra Chahal last played an ODI for the Men in Blue at home against New Zealand in January 2023, but he hasn’t been part of the playing XI since then. The star bowler for Rajasthan Royals wasn’t picked in the Asia Cup 2023 winning team of India in September either, despite reasonable performances in the 50 overs format in the last couple of years.
After Axar Patel got injured during the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, a spot opened up in the Indian squad for a spinner in the ODI World Cup 2023 squad, which was given to Ravichandran Ashwin, who will pair up with Kuldeep Yadav in the flagship tournament. With that, Yuzvendra Chahal won’t be playing any matches for Team India in three consecutive ICC tournaments, after not getting picked in the squad for the T20 World Cup 2021, while not getting a match in the T20 World Cup 2022.
He talked to Wisden India about his omission from the ODI World Cup 2023 squad of India and said, “I understand that only fifteen players can be a part, because it’s a World Cup, where you can’t take 17 or 18. I do feel a little bad, but my motto in life is to move on. I’m used to it now… it’s been three World Cups (laughs).”
The 33-year-old went to England recently to take part in the County Championship for Kent, with an aim to play red ball cricket for India. He was quoted as saying, “That’s why I came here (at Kent) to play because I want to play cricket somewhere, somehow. I’m getting a chance here with a red ball, and I seriously want to play red ball for India. So it was a good experience for me.”
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“I spoke to the coaches too, and they’re happy I’m playing somewhere, because you can practice as much in the nets, but match is match. I’m getting to play at a very good level here – first division, County – learning a lot here,” he added.
