Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has expressed surprise over Kuldeep Yadav’s non-selection in India’s squad for the T20I series against Sri Lanka as well. He has also questioned the selectors for ignoring another spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ruturaj Gaikwad for the entire tour as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “Kuldeep Yadav’s name is not there in T20 cricket. It’s very surprising because the guy has come just now after winning the World Cup but his name is not there in T20 cricket. Has something happened that we don’t know about? He is going with the ODI setup. I have got no idea why he isn’t playing T20Is.”
The former India opener also questioned whether the selectors have started looking beyond Chahal and Jadeja as well. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar are the two spinners picked in both the T20I and ODI squads whereas Kuldeep has been chosen as the wristspinner for the ODIs as well.
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“Yuzi Chahal also comes to mind. You were just now part of the World Cup. After that, you are nowhere. Ravindra Jadeja is also not part of ODI cricket. What’s happening there? He has himself retired from T20Is but would have been available in ODIs. If he is available and is not being played despite that, have Team India started looking in some other direction?” Chopra asked.
“Ruturaj Gaikwad has been left out in both formats. What did Ruturaj Gaikwad do that his name hasn’t come? Six months ago, you were worthy of becoming the captain of a team, a team that had Shubman Gill who wasn’t playing, but Shubman has become the vice-captain now and Ruturaj is not even part of the team, neither in T20Is nor in ODIs. Is that right?” he again shared.
“It’s the same thing, the coach was someone else and the selection committee might have been different. They might have done something but now they are looking for change. I really hope that it’s being communicated that he is being looked at for T20Is and will be considered for ODIs because, otherwise, Ruturaj Gaikwad, like Sanju Samson, will be very aggrieved. He might be feeling that he has been wronged,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
