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Legendary Bowler Explains Logic Behind Yuzvendra Chahal's Exclusion From World Cup 2023

image-lmc8oyw6Yuzvendra Chahal continues to be sidelined from ODIs (AP)

Yuzvendra Chahal was sidelined from India’s 15-member World Cup 2023 squad. Earlier this month, captain Rohit Sharma and BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced team’s line-up for the tournament, where Chahal’s exclusion came as a surprise to many within the Indian cricketing fraternity.

Former cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Harbhajan Singh were among the leading personalities to raise their shock and disappointment over the selector’s decision.

Notably, Chahal has been overlooked from India’s ODI outfit since January this year, even though he holds a formidable record in the format.

Addressing the selection committee’s decision, former Indian pacer and all-time women’s legend Jhulan Goswami recently gave her take over the matter.

Goswami believes team looking to strengthen batting

The BCCI selection committee excluded Yuzvendra Chahal from India’s World Cup 2023 line-up, as they decided to back Kuldeep Yadav as team’s specialist spinner instead. Moreover, the committee also added an extra middle-order batsman in the form of Suryakumar Yadav, even though the T20I batting wizard is yet to prove himself in 50-overs internationals.

Former Indian women’s pacer Jhulan Goswami recently praised Yuzvendra Chahal’s white-ball abilities. However, she justified the selector’s decision of overlooking the ace spinner, claiming that the team management is looking to enhance the batting depth.

Goswami added that not everyone can make a cut into a World Cup side, and the management always chooses the best possible team combination as per their requirement. She said:

“Chahal is great when it comes to white-ball cricket. The team management is looking into the batting depth. In modern cricket, bowling all-rounders are there. So it's a crucial role, and it just so happens that not everyone will not be in the team. Management always decide and choose the best combination.”

Yuzvendra Chahal holds staggering figures in ODI cricket, having snared 121 victims from just 72 appearances for Team India.

The 33-year-old recently received a NOC from the BCCI to play County cricket for Kent. He is slated to represent the prestigious cricket club in three first-class matches this County Championship 2023 season in England.