Yuzvendra Chahal, India’s ace leg-spinner, found himself on the sidelines after the T20 World Cup and wasn’t picked for the recently concluded Duleep Trophy either. Instead of being disheartened, Chahal took matters into his own hands, heading to England to play for Northamptonshire in County Cricket Division II. His performance there was impressive, claiming 19 wickets in just four matches, including a remarkable five-wicket haul against Kent.
It was a statement from Chahal, reminding everyone of his quality and determination to remain relevant in the international arena. Reflecting on his decision to play county cricket, Chahal revealed that it was driven by his ambition to make a case for his inclusion in the Indian Test team.
Despite being a regular in white-ball formats, he has never been able to break into the Test squad, given the presence of established spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav.
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With India scheduled to tour England in June 2025, Chahal is determined to keep himself in the running for selection. “County cricket is tough, and it provided me with the perfect platform to showcase my skills against high-quality opposition. With the England series coming up next year, I wanted to prove my worth,” Yuzvendra Chahal told The Times of India.
Yuzvendra Chahal “County cricket is tough cricket,It gave me an opportunity to showcase my skills against a very good standard of cricket.With India touring England next year,I wanted to show how good I am.”pic.twitter.com/zeiepUp2Ff
— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) September 28, 2024
He also expressed his gratitude towards those who supported his county stint. “I am very thankful to Brindon sir for giving me this opportunity to play in County cricket. I am also grateful to the Rajasthan Royals coaches who introduced me to Krish Patel, an incredibly talented 18-year-old cricketer with a bright future ahead. I am always willing to help him in any way I can,” he added.
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Next, Chahal will don the Haryana jersey in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season, where he hopes to carry forward his county form. The tournament could be crucial for his Test aspirations, as strong performances might put him in contention for the England series. For now, though, Chahal remains outside the Test squad’s radar, but his determination to don the whites for India someday is clear.
