Is Yuzvendra Chahal playing today's IND vs BAN 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 match?
Seasoned leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal continues to remain out of Team India's playing XI in the ICC Men's 2024 T20 World Cup. The 33-year-old has not featured for the Men in Blue in a single match of the ongoing ICC event and has not been picked for the Super 8 game against Bangladesh in Antigua as well.
Team India went in with three pacers [Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj] and two spinners [Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel] combination during the group stage of the T20 World Cup. The tactic worked on tough batting conditions in New York.
Ahead of the Super 8 round, India's head coach Rahul Dravid had confirmed that both Kuldeep Yadav and Chahal were in contention for the game against Afghanistan. Eventually, left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep was picked ahead of Chahal. The former impressed with 2-32, claiming the wickets of Gulbadin Naib (17) and Mohammad Nabi (14).
Chahal was among the surprise selections in the Indian T20 World Cup squad. He was named in the 15-member squad on the back of an impressive IPL 2024 season for Rajasthan Royals (RR). He claimed 18 scalps in 15 matches at an average of 30.33 and an economy rate of 9.41.
Aakash Chopra doesn't see Chahal playing in the entire T20 World Cup
Former India Test opener Aakash Chopra doesn't see Chahal playing a part in the 2024 T20 World Cup unless Kuldeep is unavailable for some reason. He admitted that Ravindra Jadeja has not done much in the tournament so far. Chopra, however, added that since Chahal does not offer much with the bat, his chances of playing even a single match are extremely slim.
While responding to a query on his YouTube channel, Chopra commented:
"...I still do not feel he will play. I feel he won't play in the entire tournament unless something happens to Kuldeep Yadav. God forbid, nothing should happen. Our kid should remain absolutely healthy and should remain in form because he is a wicket-taker. He is an X-factor.
"Yuzi Chahal is not playing because batting becomes slightly weak, or else we should say batting becomes short. Ravindra Jadeja provides you batting at Nos. 6, 7 or 8. He is a gun fielder. He might be a defensive option but you will find many times that the captain will get four overs between him and Hardik [Pandya]," the former cricketer added.
Chahal has featured in 80 T20Is so far, claiming 96 wickets at an average of 25.09 and an economy rate of 8.19.