New Delhi: Yuzvendra Chahal opens up about his disappointment at missing a spot in the Indian squad for the 2023 World Cup, emphasising his commitment to bounce back.
Yuzvendra Chahal, the prolific Indian leg-spinner, expressed his disappointment at not securing a place in the final fifteen for the upcoming 2023 World Cup hosted in India. The squad was officially confirmed on September 28, leaving Chahal out of the selected players.
In an interview with Wisden India, Chahal acknowledged the challenge of World Cup selections, saying, “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.”
Chahal, since his debut in 2016, has been a crucial part of India’s limited-overs cricket. He stands as the third-highest wicket-taker in ODIs among Indian bowlers and the second-highest among Indian spinners after Kuldeep Yadav. With two five-wicket hauls, he has consistently been one of India’s primary white-ball spinners.
Reflecting on his exclusion, Chahal referred to the last two T20 World Cups (2021 & 2022), where he was part of the squad in 2022 but did not get a game. The 2019 ODI World Cup showcased his prowess, as he took the most wickets by any spinner in the tournament.
For the 2023 World Cup, India initially opted for the spin combination of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja. However, with Axar’s injury, R. Ashwin was a last-minute replacement, resulting in Chahal’s exclusion.
The decision has stirred discussions in cricket circles, with both Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh expressing their reservations.
Keen on staying in form and getting playing time, Chahal joined Kent for three games in the County Championship. He expressed his desire to work on his red-ball form, harbouring dreams of representing India in Test cricket.
Chahal sees the competition for a spot on the team as motivation rather than a deterrent. He appreciates the performances of his teammates and views the challenge as an opportunity to work harder and make a comeback. He stated, “I take up the challenge in this way; definitely, they are doing well, and I appreciate that. The main goal is that India should win because this is not an individual game.”
Chahal remains optimistic about India’s prospects in the 2023 World Cup, predicting that the team will lift the trophy.
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