Yuzvendra Chahal gets a 'Googly' again: Leg-spinner set to miss out on playing 3 ICC events in 3 years
ICC event on the horizon and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has once again fallen out of favour with the Indian team selectors. Chahal was a big name missing from the Asia Cup squad announced on Monday but India skipper Rohit Sharma has left the door slightly ajar for the 33-year-old for the subsequent ODI World Cup at home in October-November.
The wily operator, who was once India's go to bowler in the middle overs, finds himself in familiar territory as another World Cup beckons.
Chahal was controversially excluded from the 2021 T20 World Cup before returning for the 2022 edition in Australia, where he did not get a game as finger spinners were preferred in the playing eleven.
Kuldeep Yadav, one half of the celebrated 'Kul-Cha' duo has left the other half behind in the pecking order.
Kuldeep is the sole wrist-spinner in the 17-member squad for Asia Cup with the think-tank going for the better batter in Axar Patel alongside Ravindra Jadeja.
India seem to be banking heavily on the fast bowlers to do the job in the World Cup but in the spin department, can Kuldeep, Axar and Jadeja provide the much needed wickets in the middle overs?
Will not picking Chahal hurt India at the Asia Cup, like it did in T20 format when Varun Chakaravarthy, on basis of one season of IPL, was picked ahead of him in what turned out to be a forgettable campaign for the mystery spinner as well as the team.
If the chosen combination doesn't work in the continental event, India will be forced to rethink their options ahead of the 50-over showpiece event at home. Besides not having a right-arm wrist-spin option, there is no off-break bowler in the squad either.
«We thought about an off-spinner as well, Ashwin and Washy (Washington Sundar), but right now
