"I am shocked" – Aakash Chopra on the exclusion of Yuzvendra Chahal from India's T20 World Cup squad
Aakash Chopra is shocked at Yuzvendra Chahal's exclusion from the India squad for T20 World Cup 2021. The former India opener called the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) bowler the second-best T20 leg-spinner in the world after Rashid Khan. Chopra also slammed the selection of five spinners in the squad.
The BCCI announced the squad on Wednesday. Among the surprises were the axing of Yuzvendra Chahal, Shikhar Dhawan and Deepak Chahar. The selectors, however, included Ravichandran Ashwin in the squad. The veteran off-spinner hasn't played a T20I in four years.
In a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Aakash Chopra said:
"I am actually shocked. I took it for granted that Yuzvendra Chahal would be there as he's your No.1 T20 spinner. He's probably the second-best T20 leg-spinner in the world after Rashid Khan. You picked five spinners and there's no Yuzvendra Chahal. That's not surprising. It's shocking. Five spinners in a squad is a luxury and you don't need that many spin bowlers in a tournament."
Despite Aakash Chopra's claims, the numbers don't favor Yuzvendra Chahal. After making a fine start to his career, he hasn't been at his best since 2019 and his poor form has coincided with the rise of Rahul Chahar. The former has averaged over 40 and gone almost nine an over in international cricket since 2019.
Moreover, Rahul Chahar has helped the Mumbai Indians (MI) to two IPL titles and done well with his limited opportunities in international cricket. A comparison can be found here.
All upcoming matches and the ICC T20 World Cup score for these matches will be available here.
Deepak Chahar's exclusion is surprising too: Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra also expressed surprise over the exclusion of Deepak Chahar, who holds the record for the best bowling figures (3.2-0-7-6) in T20Is. The Rajasthan pacer has been phenomenal in international cricket and also for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
According to Chopra, he would have preferred the inclusion of Deepak Chahar ahead of Mohammad Shami, who doesn't have impressive numbers in the sport's shortest format.
"We don't know Hardik Pandya's bowling prowess and will have to see it during the IPL. They have no backup for Hardik and there are only three specialist pacers in the squad. There are two major exclusions. Yuzvendra Chahal missing out is shocking and Deepak Chahar's exclusion is surprising too, as he also gives you wickets with the new ball."
Chopra added:
"Mohammad Shami, as a good a bowler he is, doesn't have impressive numbers in T20s. Between the two, I would have gone for Deepak Chahar."
The selectors have named Deepak Chahar as a travelling reserve. A good IPL campaign might see him make his way back to the squad. India, the inaugural T20 World Cup winners in 2007, will face archrivals Pakistan in their first match of the 2021 edition in Dubai on October 24.