'Yuzvendra Chahal is the only legit wicket-taking option' - Aakash Chopra assesses India's T20 World Cup squad
Yuzvendra Chahal had an underwhelming Asia Cup campaign, scalping just four wickets in four matches.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced India's 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, commencing in Australia next month. Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra reckoned that among the three frontline spinners in the squad, Yuzvendra Chahal is the only genuine wicket-taking option for India in T20Is.
The Men in Blue has opted for the veteran offie Ravichandran Ashwin and all-rounder Axar Patel in the squad, who were termed as 'defensive options' by Aakash Chopra. He highlighted the duo's recent outings in the IPL, and although they offer different varieties, Chahal is the only threatening bowler in the shortest format of the game.
"You have picked three spinners - an offspinner, a legspinner, and a left-arm spinner. So you have picked different-different options, but Yuzi Chahal is the only legit wicket-taking option in T20 cricket. The others are defensive options - make no mistake, that is the truth. You can see the numbers for the last 12 months, IPL included for both of them - Axar and Ravichandran Ashwin," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
The omission of Ravi Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav is slightly disappointing: Akash Chopra
The ex-Indian opener also opened up on the non-selection of Ravi Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav, who could've been wicket-taking options, alongside Chahal. India have welcomed Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel into the squad, and it will be interesting to see how the team management goes forward with the spin options in the team at the mega ICC event in Australian conditions.
"Ravi Bishnoi was a tempting option available to you. You are not thinking about Kuldeep at all, which is slightly disappointing, but he could also have been a wicket-taking option. But you didn't think about either of them. It will be very interesting whether you will be able to play two out of the three spinners in the XI. Will you be able to play either Axar or Ravi (Ashwin) along with Yuzi Chahal - that’s going to be a big one," Chopra further added.
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