Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has named Yuzvendra Chahal in his India squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup. The veteran off-spinner also believes that Chahal is the best leg-spinner with a sharp mind but he is also getting ignored in the T20I side in recent times as well. Notably, Chahal was snubbed during the recently concluded three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. Despite being picked in India’s squad for the T20I series in South Africa, after his exploits with the ball in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Chahal failed to be in the playing XI.
Harbhajan Singh was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times: “I would keep Yuzvendra Chahal ahead (for the first slot among spinners). He is being ignored; I don’t know why. I don’t think he knows as well. But even today, I don’t think there is a better leg-spinner in the country. And I don’t think there is a braver spinner than him. He has a very sharp mind.”
However, Yuzvendra Chahal is India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is, with 96 wickets which came at an economy rate of 8.19. He, however, claimed only nine wickets in as many games last year. Harbhajan also picked Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar among the three spinners for the 2024 T20 World Cup as well. He further added that the conditions in the USA and the West Indies will be similar to Asian conditions as well.
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“The second spinner for me would be Ravindra Jadeja. You need to have an off-spinner in Washington Sundar as well. Now, what selectors think, what the management thinks, is a different thing,” Harbhajan Singh added. “Pitches will be pretty similar, like India. Spinners will play a big role. I’ve been to the West Indies on many occasions, and I’ve seen there’s always something for the spinners. Hence, it is important to pick the right attack. You cannot look past the conditions because they will be similar to the subcontinent. You have to make the team keeping in mind the conditions. You need to have at least three spinners in your squad.”
Meanwhile, Jadeja didn’t find a place in the T20I series against Afghanistan despite being vice-captain during the T20I series in South Africa. He also picked up two wickets in as many outings at an economy rate of 9.09. On the other hand, Sundar finished with figures of 3/18 in the third T20I against Afghanistan as well. Harbhajan Singh, however, backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s return to T20Is, citing the importance of experience at the T20 World Cup as well.
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“I have a different perspective in this case. We need experience. When you are making a team for the World Cup, you need to have experience. Yes, your combination was affected a little. The players who played in the past year have been good, but in big tournaments like World Cups, you need to have experience in the team,” he again shared.
Harbhajan Singh has also warned England ahead of their five-match Test series in India. He stated that their Bazball approach won’t work in India owing to the spin-friendly conditions as well.
“Bazball won’t work. The conditions are going to be pretty difficult for England. Pitches will turn from the first day, and if you have an accurate spinner, he will take wickets. On both sides, actually. Toss becomes pretty important on such wickets. I don’t think England have a chance unless there isn’t much to offer for spinners,” Harbhajan Singh concluded.
