'No idea why he isn't playing' - Aakash Chopra stunned by Kuldeep Yadav’s exclusion from Sri Lanka T20Is

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra was surprised by India’s T20I squad for the three-match series against Sri Lanka. Kuldeep Yadav, who played an important part in the recently concluded T20 World Cup, was dropped as Ravi Bishnoi replaced him while Washington Sundar replaced Yuzvendra Chahal. Chopra believes that dropping Kuldeep was ‘surprising’ to him, especially after winning the World Cup.

The 46-year-old noted that the left-arm leg-spinner was travelling for ODIs, which made him wonder if Kuldeep will be a part of T20Is going forward. He also questioned the exclusion of Ravindra Jadeja from ODIs and Chahal’s exclusion from T20Is and wanted clarity if the team management started looking in a different direction.

Also Read - Aakash Chopra analyses India’s squad for Sri Lanka series, questions Hardik Pandya’s intent of playing long formats

“Kuldeep Yadav's name is not there in T20 cricket. It's very surprising because the guy has come just now after winning the World Cup but his name is not there in T20 cricket. Has something happened that we don't know about? He is going with the ODI setup. I have got no idea why he isn't playing T20Is,” Chopra said in a video released on his YouTube channel.

“Yuzi Chahal also comes to mind. You were just now part of the World Cup. After that, you are nowhere. Ravindra Jadeja is also not part of ODI cricket. What's happening there? He has himself retired from T20Is but would have been available in ODIs. If he is available and is not being played despite that, have Team India started looking in some other direction?” he added.

Also Read - Paras Mhambrey reflects on Kuldeep Yadav’s development

What did Ruturaj Gaikwad do that his name hasn't come?: Chopra

Ruturaj Gaikwad was sensational in the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe yet the opener couldn’t make room for himself in either of the white-ball formats. He observed that a few months back, Gaikwad was considered to be the captain ahead of Shubman Gill but now the former is not even in the squad.

“Ruturaj Gaikwad has been left out in both formats. What did Ruturaj Gaikwad do that his name hasn't come? Six months ago, you were worthy of becoming the captain of a team, a team that had Shubman Gill who wasn't playing, but Shubman has become the vice-captain now and Ruturaj is not even part of the team, neither in T20Is nor in ODIs. Is that right?” he said in the same video.