'Yuzvendra Chahal was not dropped from the Indian squad because he did not do well…': Imran Tahir's eye opening truth

It's been almost a year since Yuzvendra Chahal last played an ODI for India, and nearly five months since he last featured in a T20I. Chahal's disappearance from India's limited overs squad is a mystery in itself, quite like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's return to T20I set up. Once India's leading spinner in ODIs and T20Is, Chahal quickly fell behind in the pecking order and this downward spiral began in August 2022, when the leg spinner did not make the cut for India's Asia Cup squad.

He travelled to Australia for the T20 World Cup but did not play a single game. This year too, Chahal was axed from India's ODI squad, missed the World Cup at home. Yuzvendra Chahal last played for India in August of 2023(Getty) Almost spending a year in the wilderness, Chahal was back in India's ODI squad for the three match series against South Africa, but was again benched for all games and didn’t even feature in the squad for the Afghanistan T20Is.

As for why he was dropped in the first place, former South Africa spinner Imran Tahir weighed in, saying that Chahal getting snubbed had nothing to do with his poor form or something, but due to the fact that his Kul Cha partner Kuldeep Yadav rose through the ranks and put in a string of impressive performances.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here Also Read: Ishan Kishan told BCCI he had mental fatigue but was seen partying in Dubai "I don't think (Yuzvendra) Chahal is not bowling well. For me, he is bowling good. Chahal was not dropped because he did not do well, got dropped as Kuldeep (Yadav) went a step ahead.

He did well with (Ravindra) Jadeja and India found the right balance. Chahal should start afresh because Kuldeep grabbed the opportunity with both hands and now Chahal should wait for his. He is a wonderful bowler and will surely come back," Tahir, a leg spinner himself, told PTI. Kuldeep vs Chahal When Chahal was left out of India's squad for the Asia Cup, captain Rohit Sharma said that India wanted someone who could bat at No.

8 and 9. But it wasn't as if Kuldeep was a game changer with the bat. Although the skipper assured that the World Cup door wasn't closed on Chahal, he did eventually miss the bus, with Ravichandran Ashwin surprisingly emerging out of nowhere and getting the nod ahead of him when Axar Patel was ruled out due to injury.

Kuldeep's stocks, as Tahir pointed out, rose exponentially in his second coming. Under the Rohit Sharma Rahul Dravid era, Kuldeep's career enjoyed a second wind and he made a mark in almost every tournament he bowled in. In the Asia Cup 2023, Kuldeep rocked Pakistan with a five wicket haul and contributed with 4/43 against Sri Lanka to finish the tournament with nine wickets.

Once he did so, his place in the team for the World Cup was certain. Even there, he picked 15 wickets and was second only to Ravindra Jadeja as the Indian spinner with most dismissals. Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Catch all the Latest Cricket News , Live Cricket Score and India vs South Africa match updates along with Cricket Schedule and other related updates on Hindustan Times Website and APPs SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Share this article Share Via Copy Link ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Sports Desk At HT Sports Desk, passionate reporters work round the clock to provide detailed updates from the world of sports.

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