India named the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup with four spinners which included Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel. Rajasthan Royals star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal began the IPL 2024 season on a strong note, impressing everyone with his bowling skills and wicket-taking agility.
In the season, he also became the first bowler in the league’s history to cross the 200-wicket mark. But in the last few games, Chahal’s performances have dipped a bit as he has leaked runs and hasn’t managed to get wickets as regularly as he would have liked.
Although the leg-spinner bowled a superb spell in the clash against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, for former India opener Virender Sehwag, Chahal does not fit in the India XI in the T20 World Cup.
Kuldeep Yadav must partner Ravindra Jadeja- Virender Sehwag
Sehwag feels, that whatever the form Chahal will carry to the World Cup, it won’t help him get into the playing XI at least at the start of the tournament.
“Whatever form Chahal has, it doesn’t matter. The first opportunity that is going to be given in the T20 World Cup will be to the Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav pair,” Virender Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.
While all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is all but certain in the India XI, Kuldeep is expected to partner him if India go with the combination of two seamers, two spinners and Hardik as fast bowling all-rounder. Despite being one of the best spinners in India currently, Chahal was snubbed for the ODI World Cup, with Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid preferring R Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav over him.
Chahal recently also became the first Indian bowler to take 350 T20 wickets after taking the wicket of Rishabh Pant in RR’s match against DC. Chahal was also among the wickets on Sunday, but couldn’t prevent a defeat for RR. Defending a target of 142 runs, CSK cruised to 145/5 in 18.2 overs, courtesy of an unbeaten knock of 42* runs off 41 balls by Ruturaj Gaikwad. Meanwhile, R Ashwin bagged two wickets, Nandre Burger and Chahal took a dismissal each respectively.
Kuldeep (15) and Chahal (15) currently sit at the 10th and 12th spots respectively on the list of highest wicket-takers this IPL season. The current Purple Cap holder is Mumbai Indians’, Jasprit Bumrah who has 20 wickets to his name in 13 matches.