In a recent development, reliable sources have revealed that leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal will not be part of India’s squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The mega event and ICC’s only major tournament this year begins on June 1, with the USA and West Indies hosting a World Cup together for the first time. There is a lot of excitement surrounding the T20 World Cup and most of it can be felt in the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League.
What can Yuzvendra Chahal do to get selected?
Every player taking part in the 17th edition, whether local or foreign, will fight for a place in their respective national teams. But the hype surrounding the Indian team is unmatched.
Every single IPL 2024 game is almost like an audition of Indian players, be it contract players like Jadeja, Kohli and Bumrah or outcast players like Yuzvendra Chahal, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer.
And one such report about the 15-member Indian squad to be led by Rohit Sharma suggests that Yuzvendra Chahal’s case for the T20 World Cup is over. Despite Chahal being the joint highest wicket-taker of IPL 2024 with a month left, it is unlikely that he will even be picked as a backup spinner.
Yuzvendra Chahal has the same wickets as premium MI pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Punjab’s Harshal Patel. The 33-year-old also holds several records.
He is Team India’s highest wicket-taker in the shortest format of the game. Recently against it Mumbai IndiansChahal became the first bowler to scalp 200 wickets in the cash-rich Premier League.
Those 200 wickets came in less than 160 IPL appearances for Yuzvendra Chahal, who was a key component to it Rajasthan Royals this season.
His contribution is one of the reasons why the Royals are at the top of the points table and are also considered title favorites. But the question Chahal will ask himself will be, “What else can I do to get selected?”
Who will be India’s spinner in the World Cup?
According to the preliminary 10-man squad list released a few weeks ago, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja will inevitably be selected.
So there is already a wrist spinner and a finger spinner in the team. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh will also be there on the pace front.
For the sixth bowling option, which will serve as a replacement for the above names, Avesh Khan, Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi will be fighting for a spot. Bishnoi, the No. 6 T20I bowler in the ICC rankings, will not be an automatic choice, nor will Delhi Capitals’ reliable all-rounder Axar Patel.
When will the selection committee announce India’s squad?
The Indian Main Selection Committee is most likely to announce India’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 early next month. The 15-man squad is expected to be unveiled in the first two weeks of May.