The Indian cricket team ended their campaign in the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2022 with a heartbreaking knock as they were knocked out of the tournament after getting defeated in the semi-final at the hands of England. One of the biggest concerns highlighted by the veteran and experts after India’s disappointing exit in the semi-final was the absence of Yuzvendra Chahal in the team’s playing XI.
Unlike the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup 2022, team India had picked him in the squad but this time he didn’t get the opportunity to play. He was among the only two players in the squad to not get a game time, along with Harshal Patel.
Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid were heavily criticized for not utilizing the talent of Yuzvendra Chahal. Teammate Dinesh Karthik has finally revealed the reason why Yuzvendra Chahal was not picked in the playing XI.
During his conversation with Cricbuzz, DK revealed that both Chahal and Harshal were made clear at the start of the tournament that they would make the XI only if conditions favored their presence, or else they might have to sit out the entire tournament. He revealed:
“They didn’t sulk once or get upset once because they were very sure. At the start of the tournament they were said that under these conditions we would be playing you otherwise it might be hard. So they were very aware and were preparing in such a way that when get an opportunity they will try and do their best but there might be a chance that they end up not playing.”
“So when that clarity is there from the coach and captain it makes the job easier for the player because you just start looking inward and think okay what do I do to start preparing better. That is what they were doing and had they been given a chance they would have given their best. This is a very high intensity tournament. As mentioned, he played a lot of matches for India and he knows the feeling of being dropped,”
Meanwhile, both Yuzvendra Chahal and Harshal Patel are a part of the 3-match T20I series against New Zealand and on the other hand, Dinesh Karthik along with other senior members of the squad including the likes of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Ravi Ashwin have been rested for the series.
