Yuzvendra Chahal “feels bad” at missing out on a 2023 World Cup spot, but is determined to “move on” and work hard to return to the India team.
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Speaking in an interview with Wisden India, Chahal opened up on the disappointment of not playing the 2023 World Cup, which will be hosted entirely in India. Chahal did not find a place in India’s final fifteen which was confirmed on September 28.
“I understand that only fifteen players can be a part, because it’s a World Cup, where you can’t take 17 or 18,” Chahal told Wisden India earlier this week. “I do feel a little bad, but my motto in life is to move on. I’m used to it now… it’s been three World Cups (laughs). ”
Since his debut in 2016, Chahal has taken the third-most ODI wickets by an Indian bowler, and the second most by an Indian spinner after Kuldeep Yadav. He has two five-fors – the joint-most by an Indian bowler since.
In a seamer-dominated 2019 World Cup, Chahal took the most wickets by any spinner – 12 wickets at 36.83 – and has since been one of India’s foremost white-ball spinners.
The three World Cups Chahal refers to include the last two T20 World Cups (2021 & 2022). While Chahal wasn’t part of the 2021 squad, he made the cut in 2022, but did not get a single game.
For the 2023 World Cup, India decided to initially go with the spin combination of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja. With Axar injured days before the tournament, R Ashwin made a last-minute entry as his replacement.
Chahal’s exclusion has been widely discussed in cricketing circles: after the updated squad was announced, Yuvraj Singh said that leaving Chahal out “would be a mistake”. Earlier, Harbhajan Singh, too, had said that Chahal should have been in the team.
Keen on playing time, Chahal signed up with Kent for three games of the County Championship. He’s now aiming to work on his red-ball form, and dreams of playing Tests for India.
“Massive credit to Rohit Sharma and the team management for showing faith in me. Life is full of surprises."#RAshwin #WorldCup2023 https://t.co/sV0AqcfeCU
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) September 30, 2023
“That’s why I came here [at Kent] to play because I want to play cricket somewhere, somehow,” Chahal added. “I’m getting a chance here with a red ball, and I seriously want to play red ball for India. So it was a good experience for me.
“I spoke to the coaches too, and they’re happy I’m playing somewhere, because you can practice as much in the nets, but match is match. I’m getting to play at a very good level here – first division, County – learning a lot here.”
When asked about competing for a spot with long-time teammates and friends like Kuldeep Yadav and R Ashwin, and how he perceives the challenge, Chahal said that it motivates him to keep working hard and push his way back into the team.
https://wisden.com/stories/county-cricket/county-championship-2023-county-cricket/watch-yuzvendra-chahal-off-stump-dream-leg-break-county-championship
“I don’t think too much in that sense [on competing with other spinners in the Indian team’, because I know if I perform well, I’ll play,” Chahal said. “Someone or the other will eventually replace you in the future. That time will come someday.”
“I take up the challenge in this way: definitely, they are doing well and I appreciate that. The main goal is that India should win, because this is not an individual game.”
“If I am part of the team or not, they are like my brothers. Obviously, I support India [team]. I like the challenge: it tells me I need to work hard so that I come back.”
Chahal predicts India will lift the 2023 World Cup, the final of which is scheduled to be played on November 19.
The full interview will be released soon on Wisden.com.
