‘Pura saal khilaate WC me drop krdete’ – Fans react as Yuzvendra Chahal breaks his silence on 2023 ODI World Cup snub

Team India are set to host the 13th edition of the Men’s ODI World Cup with an aim to end their 10-year drought of a major trophy. The Indian Cricket Board has announced a strong 15-member squad which will be led by Rohit Sharma. With the return of most of the veteran players, the team is strong enough to give tough competition to the opponents.

In Indian subcontinent conditions, spinners have an upper hand over pace bowlers and the home team has a better spin bowling attack. India gave included three specialist spinners – Kuldeep Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. However, a notable omission from this list is veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.

Chahal is one of India’s best white ball spinners, but he is also one of the unluckiest cricketers. He mostly plays for the side throughout the year, but somehow misses out on being a part of the mega-events. The right-arm leg-break bowler, who took 121 ODI wickets in 72 matches, was left out of India’s 2023 Asia Cup squad and World Cup squad.

My motto in life is to move on: Chahal 

Meanwhile, in an interview with Wisden India, the 33-year-old broke his silence about his exclusion from the World Cup. Chahal expressed disappointment at not being a part of three World Cups but decided to move on. Notably, he wasn’t picked for the 2021 T20 World Cup, but he made it to the squad for the 2022 World Cup, where he didn’t get a single opportunity to play.

“I understand that only fifteen players can be a part, because it’s a World Cup, where you can’t take 17 or 18. I do feel a little bad, but my motto in life is to move on. I’m used to it now… it’s been three World Cups (laughs),” Chahal told Wisden India.

They are like my brothers: Chahal when asked about competition from Kuldeep and Ashwin

Kuldeep’s late emergence was a setback for Yuzi. The left-arm Chinaman is in red-hot form it is not possible for India to exclude him. On the other side, Ashwin found a place due to Axar Patel’s injury. When asked about competing for a spot with the duo, Chahal said he is not thinking about it in that way and is instead focusing on his performance.

“I don’t think too much in that sense (on competing with other spinners) because I know if I perform well, I’ll play. Someone or the other will eventually replace you in the future,” Chahal said.

I take up the challenge in this way: definitely, they are doing well and I appreciate that. The main goal is that India should win, because this is not an individual game. If I am part of the team or not, they are like my brothers. Obviously, I support India, he concluded.

Here’s how fans reacted to Yuzvendra Chahal’s statement: 

https://twitter.com/elonifiedmusk/status/1708322056117661904