Harbhajan Singh Expresses Bafflement at Yuzvendra Chahal’s T20I Absence: ‘No Better, Braver Spinner Than Him’

In the build-up to the upcoming T20 World Cup, Team India secured a triumphant 3-0 victory against Afghanistan in their final T20I series earlier this month. The series witnessed the return of captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli after an absence of over 14 months in the format. Notably, injuries sidelined regular T20I players Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav. Spearheading the spin attack, Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar showcased their effectiveness, with Axar emerging as the standout performer. His impressive figures of 2/23 and 2/17 in the first two matches contributed to India’s success, although he was rested for the final match in Bengaluru, which concluded with a thrilling Double Super Over finish.

Over the past year, Yuzvendra Chahal, once a key spinner in ODIs and T20Is, has experienced a decline in his white-ball presence. Despite making a return to the ODI squad against South Africa in December, Chahal remains absent from the T20I format. Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh finds it perplexing and stresses the importance of Chahal’s inclusion in the T20I squad, especially as India prepares for the T20 World Cup.

“I would keep Yuzvendra Chahal ahead (for the first slot among spinners),” Harbhajan stated during an interaction. Expressing his perplexity about Chahal’s exclusion, Harbhajan highlighted Chahal’s skills, bravery, and sharp cricketing mind. Harbhajan suggested Ravindra Jadeja as the second spinner and emphasized the need for an off-spinner like Washington Sundar. However, he acknowledged that selectors and management decisions might differ.

Also read: Shoaib Malik Ties Knot with Pakistani Actress Sana Javed Amidst Speculations of Separation from Sania Mirza

Harbhajan believes that spinners will play a crucial role in the T20 World Cup held in the USA and West Indies. Anticipating similar conditions to the subcontinent, Harbhajan emphasized the importance of selecting the right spin attack. He suggested having at least three spinners in the squad to capitalize on the assistance that spinners are likely to receive from pitches in the USA and the West Indies.