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The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) recently unveiled the Indian squad for the much-anticipated Asia Cup 2023. With the tournament set to unfold from August 30, the announcement of the Indian team has ignited huge excitement among cricket enthusiasts. However, it has also led to debates as certain prominent names have been left out of the team.
India’s seasoned spinner Yuzvendra Chahal’s omission emerged as one such decision that left many fans disheartened. Although Chahal had showcased a commendable performance during India’s recent West Indies tour, he wasn’t added to the Asia Cup 2023 squad of India. The spinner’s snub from the team sparked huge discussions among his supporters and experts alike.
It is worth mentioning that the squad put together by the selectors feature three spin bowlers in the form of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja.
Sunil Gavaskar provides an analysis to explain Yuzvendra Chahal’s snub
Former Indian cricket captain turned commentator Sunil Gavaskar also shared his views on Chahal’s exclusion. Gavaskar stepped in to provide insight into the reasoning behind the selectors’ preference for Kuldeep over Chahal. Gavaskar’s perspective shed light on the probable nuances that influenced the selector’s decision.
In his analysis, Gavaskar highlighted Yadav’s ability to bring a greater variety to the team’s bowling attack compared to Chahal. He also underscored Yadav’s proficiency with the bat, which may have contributed to his selection. By emphasizing Yadav’s versatility as both a bowler and a lower-order batter, Gavaskar offered fans a glimpse into the selectors’ thought process.
“(On Sanju Samson and Yuzvendra Chahal) Well, clearly, if Sanju Samson had got more runs, then he would have been certainly in the team, so with Chahal. But sometimes you’re looking at the balance of the team. Maybe, you can say that Kuldeep is a handy batter down the order, so maybe that’s why he gets the nod ahead of Chahal. Also, he brings a left-hand variety,” Gavaskar told India Today.
Sunil Gavaskar addresses Sanju Samson’s absence from the primary squad
The cricket legend even delved into the contentious debate surrounding the inclusion of Sanju Samson in the standby list. Gavaskar indicated that Samson’s recent batting performance was a pivotal factor in his absence from the primary squad. He further added that the young cricketer has ample time ahead of him to further hone his skills.
“And, so for, Sanju Samson as well. Because of the fact that he’s an all-rounder, why? Because he can keep wickets as well. So, I think these are factors that the selection committee will look at and I do believe Sanju Samson is only 28, so you can’t say this is gonna be his last World Cup. There is plenty of time for him to get into the Indian team,” added Gavaskar
