Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra wants Yuzvendra Chahal to be considered for India’s World Cup squad, which will be announced by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel on Tuesday. Chopra reckons Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are similar kinds of left-arm spinners and Chahal will bring something different to the table with his wrist leg-spin.
Chahal was recently not picked in India’s 17-man Asia Cup squad as Indian skipper Rohit Sharma highlighted that they wanted depth in their batting order.
Meanwhile, Chahal’s current form isn’t the best and it also played a role in his exclusion. Chahal also could not get a game in the recent three-match ODI series against the West Indies. The leg-spinner from Haryana has scalped 121 wickets in 72 ODI matches at an average of 27.13 and an economy rate of 5.27.
Ravindra Jadeja picks himself in the playing XI whereas India is backing Kuldeep Yadav as the second spinner in the side.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “The 17 that are there, I am not assuming anyone to come from outside, although Yuzi Chahal and Shikhar Dhawan are not there. I feel Yuzi Chahal should be talked about but it’s not happening.”
The former Indian opener added: “Why am I saying that he should be talked about? I love Axar to bits but Jadeja and Axar are similar kinds of left-arm spinners and similar kinds of batters as well, and you will have both of them playing together.”
Chopra added that India won’t bowl 30 overs of spin if they pick Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav in the final XI.
“If you keep both of them (Jadeja and Axar) together at No. 7 and No. 8 and Kuldeep Yadav at No. 9, will India go with three spinners? We also have to bear in mind that you have a 10-over powerplay at the start and you need death bowlers for the last 10 years. So you won’t bowl 30 overs of spin.”
The reputed commentator wants India to back Yuzvendra Chahal ahead of Axar Patel in the World Cup squad as the former is a specialist spinner.
“Hardik Pandya is bowling. He bowled more than even Shardul Thakur in yesterday’s match, but in the end, I still feel you can think about Yuzi Chahal in place of Axar. Personally, I like specialists. So I was thinking Yuzi Chahal should come. If Kuldeep goes cold in one or two matches, you don’t have a bowler like him.”
India will begin their World Cup campaign against Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on October 8.
