Yuzvendra Chahal with Rohit Sharma (AP/PTI)
Yuzvendra Chahal was among India’s most successful white-ball spinners, but his international career took a turn in 2023 when he was left out of the squad for the ODI World Cup at home. Despite his reputation as an attacking leg-spinner and an impressive record in T20Is, Chahal did not feature in a single match at the 2024 T20 World Cup either. The 36-year-old, who last played an ODI in January 2023, has now opened up about missing out on India’s 15-member squad for the 2023 World Cup. In 2022, at least I was in the team.
Because i was not there at all, “I felt worse in 2021. Speaking to former India opener Aakash Chopra , Chahal revealed that then-captain Rohit Sharma had personally explained the team management’s thinking behind the decision.
Rohit had told me that I would play only if a particular combination worked. So at least I had the clarity,” he said. Sometimes you also know the combination may not work. So I did not think a lot. But you always feel that you should have at least played one World Cup game.
“In 2023, when I went to play County, Rohit had told me that we want batters till number eight, so we were going with that. Chahal said he approached the 2024 IPL without putting himself under additional pressure, focusing instead on enjoying his cricket. He explained that being part of the team at the 2022 tournament at least gave him clarity about his role and the circumstances in which he might play.
India wanted to strengthen their batting depth and retain the option of playing an additional fast bowler, leaving little room for him in the team’s plans, according to Chahal. He told me clearly that they were also looking for an extra fast bowler for the World Cup. After the World Cup, I just stopped thinking about selection,” Chahal said. Asked which omission affected him the most, Chahal said missing out on the squad altogether was more difficult to accept than being selected but not getting a game.
So it was made clear to me. His performances caught Rohit’s attention, with the former India captain indicating that he wanted him in the World Cup squad.