[Watch] Prankster Yuzvendra Chahal Caught 'Teasing' A Watchman At NCA

image-lrufk9yrChahal with NCA staff (X.com)

India's crafty leg-spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal, recently showcased his playful side as he shared a light moment with a watchman at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.

It has been nearly a year since Chahal's last appearance in an ODI for India and almost five months since he participated in a T20I match. The mystery surrounding Chahal's absence from India's limited-overs squads mirrors the intrigue of Sarfaraz Khan's absence from the Test side.

On Friday, January 26, Chahal took to his Instagram account to post a story featuring a staff member from the NCA. In the video, the witty leg-spinner can be seen teasing the NCA staff. He humorously commented on the watchman's haircut, capturing a jovial moment between the two.

Accompanying the video, Chahal wrote:

                                                         "He's back with a new haircut."

Coming to the professional front, Chahal, who was once India's primary spinner in ODIs and T20Is, experienced a notable decline in status. This downward trend started in August 2022 when the leg-spinner was omitted from India's Asia Cup squad. 

Although he traveled to Australia for the T20 World Cup, he did not get the chance to play a single game. Subsequently, Chahal faced exclusion from India's ODI squad this year and was absent during the World Cup held at home.

After nearly a year away from competitive cricket, Chahal returned to India's ODI squad for the three-match series against South Africa. However, he remained on the bench for all games and wasn't even part of the squad for the Afghanistan T20Is.

Chahal's most recent ODI appearance occurred against New Zealand in January 2023. The skilled spinner also missed a spot in the Men in Blue squad for the 50-over World Cup last year. In T20Is, he has not been included in India's playing XI since the series against West Indies in August 2023.

At 33 years old, Chahal has found himself relegated in India's white-ball team hierarchy, primarily due to the impressive emergence of young leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi.

Looking ahead, Chahal aims to deliver impactful performances in the upcoming 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to strengthen his case for selection in the ICC event. He can still make the cut, but he has Kuldeep Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi ahead of him in the pecking order.