'Yuzvendra Chahal was not dropped because he didn't do well': Imran Tahir on leg-spinner's absence from Team India squad

Things may not have gone according to plan for leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal as far as his Team India opportunities are concerned, but former South Africa cricketer Imran Tahir feels that Chahal wasn’t dropped because he wasn’t doing well, rather it was simply about how Kuldeep Yadav was a step ahead of Chahal.

Chahal endured a disappointing 2023, having just played two ODIs last year and was overlooked in India’s squad for the ODI World Cup, with the team management preferring Kuldeep. Chahal’s last T20I for India came against West Indies in Lauderhill in August last year, where he endured figures of 0/51.

“I don’t think (Yuzvendra) Chahal is not bowling well. For me, he is bowling good. Chahal was not dropped because he did not do well, got dropped as Kuldeep (Yadav) went a step ahead. He did well with (Ravindra) Jadeja and India found the right balance,” Imran Tahir, who himself is a leg-spinner, told news agency PTI.

Tahir hoped that Chahal would make a strong comeback. Chahal was recently in action in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he took 18 wickets from eight matches for Haryana, including best bowling figures of 6/26.

“Chahal should start afresh because Kuldeep grabbed the opportunity with both hands and now Chahal should wait for his. He is a wonderful bowler and will surely come back,” added Tahir.

Tahir picked Kuldeep and Tabraiz Shamsi as his preferred choice of two wrist spinners.

“I think Kuldeep…what he had achieved last year and what he was before even though he was good before, I appreciate being a spinner. I am also a big fan of Chahal but across the globe Zampa also did well and there is Tabraiz Shamsi, he has not got consistent opportunities.

“If he gets opportunities then I think he will do a lot of good things. So, I think Kuldeep and Shamsi will be my picks,” commented the 44-year-old.