Experts Feel Writing Off Yuzvendra Chahal And Kuldeep Yadav Isn't A Right Call

Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav were once again left out of the squad when the selectors announced the news regarding the T20I squad for the series against South Africa. The duo was kept away from the team and, the selectors asked the youngsters to fill the roles of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. Meanwhile, experts Aakash Chopra and Yuzvendra Chahal believe it is too early to take such a call.

Both Kuldeep and Chahal, who had cemented their place in the two shorter formats with impressive performances over the past 24 months, have not been picked for two straight T20 series, including the ongoing home assignment against South Africa.

Read More: Yuzvendra Chahal And Kuldeep Yadav Should Go Back To Domestic Cricket – Sunil Joshi

Rahul Chahar and Washington Sundar are part of the T20 squad for the South Africa series beginning in Dharamsala on September 15. They both also travelled to the Caribbean last month. Alongside the duo, Ravindra Jadeja and Krunal Pandya also available for the team, who also adds a depth to the batting lineup.

India captain Virat Kohli on Saturday opened up on the reasons for exclusion of spinning duo Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav in the upcoming three-match T20I series against South Africa. Speaking to reporters in Dharamsala a day ahead of the 1st T20I against Proteas, the skipper said that the decision was taken to increase the depth in India’s lower batting order.

”India should target 220+” feels Aakash Chopra

Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra feels that India should aim 220 runs on the board on a regular basis in order to have such a batting lineup. Otherwise, Chopra feels it isn’t a great idea to put Yadav and Chahal away from the team.

“The idea is if you have that much depth in batting you bat a certain way. You can’t bat conservatively if you have that kind of depth. That is what England did. They changed the template completely. They focused on batting deep as they wanted to score 400 (in ODIs) and they achieved it many times,” Chopra told PTI.

“It looks India is wanting to take the same aggressive approach in T20s and there is nothing wrong in that. Now, they need to start showing the intent of scoring 220 consistently.

“Batting till 8, 9 and 10 is still ambitious (as you don’t need them at all in a 20 over game) but if you are trying to score 220 it is fine,” he explained.

Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav must play domestic cricket – Sunil Joshi

On the other hand, Sunil Joshi feels that Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav must go back to domestic cricket in order to be in rhythm. As they are being picked in only one format, Sunil Joshi feels it is important for the spin duo to stay in the rhythm and improve their tactics.

Read More: Javed Miandad Slams Sri Lankan Players For Pulling Out Of Pakistan Tour

“I would suggest that Kuldeep and Chahal should go back to domestic cricket when they are not on national duty. Finger spinner or wrist spinner is not the question here. It is about having the tactics to outclass the batsman besides technique and temperament,” Joshi told PTI.

“Let’s see how the young spinners do and ample opportunities should be given to them but at the same time if Chahal and Kuldeep are playing only one format it could disturb their rhythm. White ball cricket is all about rhythm.

“The conditions will be different in Australia for the T20 World Cup with the bigger grounds. Overspin will come in handy. All the spinners who are in the hunt should be told about their roles clearly else it might cause confusion in their minds,” Joshi added.

Following the World Cup in England and Wales, it is clear that Team India want to bolster their lower batting order and try out a new combination in the spin department; keeping Chahal and Yadav out of the line-up. With the world cup in the lineup, India would be trying to get their best team balance.