"If Chahal isn't there in Indian team.."- Irfan Pathan warns Rohit Sharma of another World Cup loss

Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has backed leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal's inclusion in India's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, set to be played in June. Irfan Pathan stated that the Indian team is unlikely to win the ICC marquee tournament in the absence of Yuzvendra Chahal.

Yuzvendra Chahal last played a T20I match against the West Indies in August last year. The 33-year-old is India's leading wicket-taker in the short format of the game. He has taken 96 wickets in 80 matches at an average of 25.09 and an economy rate of 8.19, with the best bowling figures of 6/25.

The Haryana-born cricketer failed to make it to India's squad for the 2021 T20 World Cup, despite having four spinners in the squad. Chahal returned to the team for the following edition of the T20 World Cup in Australia. However, the spinner was benched throughout the tournament.

Kept Suggesting Yuzvendra Chahal's Inclusion - Irfan Pathan

Speaking on Star Sports Press Room, Irfan Pathan stated that the non-selection of Yuzvendra Chahal proved costly for the team in the semi-final of the last T20 World Cup.

“In the last World Cup in Australia, I kept suggesting Chahal’s inclusion in the playing XI for the semis, when commentators from all over the world were around. But it never happened,” Pathan said.

The Men in Blue suffered a loss against England in the semi-final clash at the Adelaide Oval. The Indian cricket team failed to defend 168 runs in the knockout match. Indian bowlers struggled to pick wickets as England chased down the target without losing any wickets in just 16 overs.