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BCCI selection committee, led by Chetan Sharma, on Wednesday, finally announced the squad for the 2021 T20 World Cup. While some expected names made it to the list, there were a few surprises as well. Ravichandran Ashwin has been recalled to the white ball side after four years while one of the regulars in India’s white ball cricket, especially T20Is, Yuzvendra Chahal has been left out. Chahal’s exclusion attracted a lot of eyes, mostly in suspicion on why did he miss out? People came up with possible explanations but were not satisfied.
While a reaction from the bowler himself is still awaited, his wife was quick to post a message regarding the same. Dhanashree Verma, with whom Chahal recently got married, shared a story on her Instagram where she wrote a few sentences recalling a piece of advice from her mother. “Maa Kehti hai….ki yeh waqt bhi guzar jaana hai….Sar utha ke Jiyo Kyunki Hunar or ache karam hmesha sath dete hai….To Ji baat aisi hai ki- Yeh waqt bhi guzar Jaana hai. God is always great,” (My mother says, ‘This too shall pass. Live with your head high as talent and good deeds always help’. So, the thing is, this too shall pass. God is always great)", wrote Dhanashree.
Check out Dhanashree's story here:
Did Indian selectors miss a trick by leaving out Chahal?
This question is resonating in everyone’s head. But unfortunately, there is no good answer to this. Chetan Sharma tried to explain the move by saying that Rahul Chahar will be able to extract pace from the surface as he is a tad faster in the air and he may be right to an extent. Chahal’s recent form also goes against him but the experience he possesses could have been crucial in pressure situations.
He has been India’s go-to spinner in the shortest format for a considerable period. He has the best bowling figures (6-25) for an Indian spinner in T20Is and is also the leading wicket taker (63 wickets) for India in the shortest format. Also, with MS Dhoni back in the Indian dugout as the mentor, Chahal would have felt more comfortable and confident. It is not a mystery to anyone how Dhoni has helped him from behind the stumps. Rahul Chahar is a great addition but Chahal will certainly be missed.