Asia Cup 2023: Sunil Gavaskar Shares His Views On Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal's Non-selection In India's 17-Man Squad

Legendary India National Cricket Team batter Sunil Gavaskar has shared his views on the exclusion of the wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal from India’s 17-man squad for the Asia Cup 2023.

On Monday, August 21, BCCI organized a press conference where captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar named India’s squad for the continental tournament. Two names that were missing from the main squad were Samson and Chahal. Although Samson was included in the team as a traveling reserve, veteran leg-spinner Chahal was entirely left out of the ODI setup.

Speaking on India Today, Sunil Gavaskar said that Samson and Chahal would have been selected had they performed on a consistent basis.

“If Sanju Samson had got more runs then he would have been a certainty in the team. So also with Chahal. But sometimes you are looking at the balance of the team. The selectors are sometimes hamstrung by the fact that they are looking at different aspects like fielding and what they can do with the bat,” said Gavaskar on India Today.

Kuldeep Yadav is a better batter – Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar further said that Kuldeep Yadav may have got the nod ahead of Chahal because he is a better batter down the order. While expressing his satisfaction over the squad selection, Sunil Gavaskar said that a good squad has been picked and people should back the players.

“Kuldeep Yadav is a better batter down the order, maybe that’s why he gets the nod ahead of Chahal. In terms of Samson as well, because of the fact that he is an all-rounder as he can keep wickets as well. These are the factors that the selection committee will look at. Sanju Samson is only 29 so I don’t think that this is going to be his last World Cup. There is plenty of time for him to get into the Indian team. I think it is a very good side and we should back them,” he said.

Yuzvendra Singh Chahal was last seen in action during the recently concluded West Indies tour. He didn’t get any games in the ODI series but played all five T20I matches where he wasn’t very impressive with the ball. Overall, he has played 72 ODIs for India and has bagged 121 wickets.