ICC World Cup 2023: Yuzvendra Chahal Joins New Team In County Cricket After Being Ignored By Indian Selectors - Reports

The 33-year-old India National Cricket Team leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has joined a new team in county cricket after being ignored by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors for Asia Cup 2023 and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

Chahal has been a great performer for India in white-ball cricket since making his debut in 2016. He served as the first-choice wrist-spinner in the team for an extended period. However, in the last few years there has been a drop in his form in international cricket and the re-emergence of Kuldeep Yadav has made things even more difficult for Yuzvendra Chahal.

Chahal has been constantly ignored by the selector for the multi-nation tournaments and he was recently left out of India’s 17-man squad for Asia Cup 2023. Also, he was ignored for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, the squad for which was announced on Tuesday, September 5. India have decided to go with three spin-bowling options in the team and all three of them are left-arm spinners. The three spinners are Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja.

Yuzvendra Chahal Joins Kent

According to the recent reports in TOI, Yuzvendra Chahal has joined Kent County Cricket Club for his maiden stint in County cricket. The leg-spinner is set to play three four-day games for the club.

“The Kent County Cricket Club will make an official announcement regarding this development soon. Chahal will play three four-day games for them. The BCCI has granted NOC to him to play County cricket. Should he be a requirement for the India team, Chahal will join the national squad immediately,” said a source in the BCCI, as quoted by TOI.

Meanwhile, Yuzvendra Chahal has said that he is disappointed to miss out on the India selection but is hopeful of making his comeback to the side soon.

“Naturally, it is very disappointing to miss out any selection for India. As a cricketer we must accept that some things don’t always go our way. I must continue to try my best and hopefully my performances will justify selection again for India,” Chahal said as quoted by TOI.

Yuzvendra Chahal was also grateful to the CEO of Zestige Private Healthcare, Brindon Bagirathan, who helped him get a county deal.

“Rahul Dravid Sir speaks so highly of his time in County cricket. I really wanted to play (in County cricket). I cannot explain how grateful I am of my good friend Brindon who helped me in such short notice,” he said.

Overall, Chahal has played 72 ODIs and 80 T20Is for India National Cricket Team while picking up 121 and 96 wickets.