Rajasthan Royals leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has identified two potential contenders for the coveted Orange Cap in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. During an interview on the YouTube channel ‘JokerKiHaveli’ hosted by Esports streamer Gulrez Khan, Chahal humorously suggested he himself could win the Orange Cap before naming Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal as his top picks for the highest run-scorers.
“Orange cap will go to (Yashasvi) Jaiswal or Jos Buttler,” Yuzvendra Chahal remarked confidently. However, he didn’t shy away from expressing his own aspirations, adding, “I will take the most wickets. Second, Rashid Khan.”
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Meanwhile, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra expressed surprise at Chahal’s exclusion from the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) central contracts. Chopra speculated that Chahal’s omission indicates a shift in the BCCI selection committee’s focus. He voiced his astonishment, particularly given Chahal’s consistent performance in the IPL and international cricket.
“I am a bit surprised that Chahal’s name is not there. Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, and Shikhar Dhawan – their names not being there, I can understand. Even Deepak Hooda for that matter. But Chahal’s name not being there – what does that signify? It seems to indicate that they (BCCI) are looking in a different direction,” said Aakash Chopra during a discussion on his YouTube channel.
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The discussion also touched upon the exclusion of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from the central contracts, raising questions about the BCCI’s criteria. Their absence from the centrally contracted players’ list came amidst the BCCI’s emphasis on prioritizing domestic cricket, particularly the Ranji Trophy, over the IPL. However, Kishan and Iyer’s continued absence from the ongoing 2024 Ranji Trophy contradicted the BCCI’s directive, sparking further debate on the selection process.
