The next big event in the cricketing world is the T20 World Cup 2022, which is set to take place in Australia from October 16 to November 13. Several teams have started the preparations by taking part in the bilateral T20I series, including India, who recently engaged in the five-match T20I leg against South Africa, which ended 2-2 after the final match was abandoned due to rain.
Notably, India had a scatter-brained campaign in the previous edition of the global showpiece event as they failed to make it to the group stage and were ousted early from the tournament. Now under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India will be aiming to change the fortunes and to do that, the ‘Men in Blue’ will need some sureshot match-winners.
Speaking about the same, former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has picked one star who, according to him, will be the ‘Trump Card’ for India in the multi-team competition. Bangar reckoned that leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal would be crucial for Team India in the T20 World Cup as the tweaker has been super consistent for the ‘Men in Blue’.
“Yuzvendra Chahal is a player who was missed a lot in the last World Cup. He will definitely emerge as a trump card in Australia and give the Indian team good success,” said Bangar on Star Sports.
“If any leg-spinner has played consistently for a long time for India, that is Anil Kumble. After Anil Kumble, if any wrist-spinner has played consistently for India or a long time, it is Yuzvendra Chahal,” he added.
Notably, after being snubbed for the 2021 T20 World Cup, Chahal has managed an incredible turnaround by finishing as the highest wicket-taker in IPL 2022 and then shining with the ball in the recently-concluded T20I series against the Proteas. Though, Chahal went for runs in the first two games of the five-match contest but came back strongly and Bangar observed that it shows Chahal has a ‘big heart’ as he is not afraid of getting hit.
“Absolutely, it has played a huge role. It is tested how big a heart you have. When you learn to get hit and are not afraid of getting hit, then you learn how to bowl. He changes his seam position slightly and bowls different-different lines, this has been his strength. He has brought a very good aspect to his game, which is to bowl on wider lines to both right-handers and left-handers. That learning he has got has come from Chinnaswamy only,” Bangar added further.
