The legspinner has played just two ODIs this year, and there’s an Asia Cup and World Cup looming
Vishal Dikshit06-Aug-2023Yuzvendra Chahal hasn’t played an ODI since January 2023. He’s been a regular in India’s ODIs squads over the last year or so but doesn’t get much game time at the moment because of the preferred team combination.When playing away from home, India usually field only two spinners – Ravindra Jadeja as the spin allrounder and Kuldeep Yadav as the wristspinner.India are almost certainly going to pick one spin allrounder – Jadeja is first choice with Axar Patel as back-up – in the starting XI for the Asia Cup and World Cup. And with seven wickets in three ODIs in the West Indies, Kuldeep is staying ahead of Chahal in the pecking order for wristspinners.Related
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“The team combination is the most important thing for us,” Chahal said ahead of the second T20I against West Indies. “And it’s not just now. If you see, at No. 7 either Jadeja or Axar [Patel] plays. So depending on the wicket we play three spinners. Right now Kuldeep is bowling well, his rhythm is good, so he is getting to play. I just keep practising in the nets so that whenever I get a chance I can grab it.”Since his last ODI, against New Zealand in January 2023, India have played two ODI series – against Australia at home before the IPL and in the recent West Indies. Chahal was part of both squads but did not play a game. The first T20I against West Indies in Tarouba was his first international in over two months.”Firstly, I’m very happy I get to wear the blue jersey every day and I’m not sitting at home, I’m part of the team,” Chahal said. “It’s not an individual game, it’s a team game so only when 15 players work together you win matches. Only 11 can play at a time. I haven’t played two-three series. You have to see the team combination, and where you’re playing. Like if there’s a turning track, you can play three spinners as well, instead of one or two.