Matthew Hayden and Yuzvendra Chahal. (Photo Source: Twitter and Kerry Marshall/Getty Images)
The announcement of the Asia Cup squad for the Indian side has given birth to a lot of questions with respect to all the selections. The biggest omission in the squad can be said of experienced spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who has yet again missed the bus for a multi-nation event. While announcing the squad, chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained how it is difficult to accommodate two wrist spinners in the set-up and that Kuldeep Yadav stands ahead of Chahal in pecking order.
However, former Australian Matthew Hayden feels that there have been some big omissions in the Indian squad and Chahal is definitely one of them. Hayden added how the leg-spinner is a superb player and the omission call would have been tough for the selectors.
“There are some big omissions. Chahal, in particular, that leg-spinner, is such a superb player and (it) must be tough for the selectors because they’ve also got another one in Kuldeep (Yadav)…. he’s a superb player. So, they’ve gone for that as an option,” said Hayden as quoted by India Today.
In a surprising turn of events, Tilak Varma bagged the maiden ODI call-up for Asia Cup on the back of his masterclass in West Indies T20Is. Hayden opened up on the decision and called it a strategic move especially keeping in mind the T20 World Cup 2024. Varma finished the West Indies assignment (T20Is) as India’s highest run-getter with 173 runs to his name.
“In the lead-up to World Cups, you’re always going to have some players and we’ve seen the class of Tilak Varma. I think it’s a good strategy in terms of not just this World Cup but even potentially getting into the next World Cup (T20 World Cup 2024) as well,” he said.
With the likes of KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Jasprit Bumrah being back in the set-up, it would be expected of India to operate at optimum standard in the impending Asia Cup.