Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector, elaborated on the reasoning behind this choice, emphasizing the difficulty of accommodating two wrist spinners within the squad. He indicated that Kuldeep Yadav currently holds a higher position than Chahal in the pecking order of spinners. Nevertheless, this explanation did not deter former Australian batting great Matthew Hayden from expressing his respect for Chahal and describing his omission from the Asia Cup squad as a notable one.
Chahal, renowned for his crafty leg-spin, has long been a key figure in India’s limited-overs cricket. However, the 33-year-old recent performances have raised some concerns, and he did not get a chance to play in the recent three-match ODI series against West Indies.
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Hayden believes omitting Chahal was a challenging decision for BCCI selectors
Hayden acknowledged Chahal’s undeniable skills and contributions to the team’s success over the years. Nevertheless, he also recognized the talents of Kuldeep, his fellow wrist-spinner, and stated that the decision to omit Chahal must have posed a difficult challenge for the BCCI selectors.
“There’re some big omissions. Chahal in particular, that leg-spinner is such a superb player and (it) must be tough for the selectors because they’ve also got another one in Kuldeep (Yadav)…. he’s a superb player. So, they’ve gone for that as an option,” Hayden was quoted as saying by PTI.
Hayden cites the inclusion of Tilak Varma as a catalyst for healthy competition
In an unexpected turn of events, young batter Tilak Varma secured his first-ever ODI call-up for the Asia Cup. This selection was primarily based on his outstanding performances in the West Indies T20Is, where he emerged as India’s top run-scorer. Varma amassed 173 runs in five innings, boasting an impressive average of 57.66 and a strike rate exceeding 140.
Hayden shared his thoughts on Tilak’s selection, characterizing it as a strategic move, particularly with an eye on the T20 World Cup in 2024.
“In the lead-up to World Cups, you’re always going to have some players and we’ve seen the class of Tilak Varma. I think it’s a good strategy in terms of not just this World Cup but even potentially getting into the next World Cup (T20 World Cup 2024) as well,” the cricketer-turned-commentator opined.
Hayden views the inclusion of emerging talents like Varma as a positive move that fosters healthy competition within the Indian squad. This competitive environment can serve as a driving force for improvement and innovation among the more experienced players, ultimately enhancing the team’s overall performance.
“The great thing about India is it’s got a really solid one-two-three combination. Similar to Australia actually, when you look at their last four or five months, they’ve had a really good and strong – what we like to call – the engine room. And then they’ve got some good problems to solve through the middle order,” the southpaw further added.
“And if they can fill spots with talented young players like Tilak Varma, put pressure on someone like Suryakumar Yadav, I think that’s a good strategy. Keep everyone honest in the side and performing. So not a bad move. I think it’s a great side,” Hayden concluded.
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