Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh recently commented on Yuzvendra Chahal’s withdrawal from the forthcoming three-match T20I series against South Africa.
Harbhajan highlighted that Chahal was overlooked again, even after great T20Is performances. Yet, he was glad to see the leg-spinner return to the ODI team.
In a video uploaded on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan said:
“There is no Yuzvendra Chahal in T20 format. You kept him in ODIs but not T20Is. Lollyop de diya bande ko (They gave him lollypop).”
“Aap jo format me acha karte hain wo nahi khilayenge baki ka format khilayenge (We won’t take in the format where you do well but will take for other formats). Ye mere samajh se pare hain (It’s beyond my understanding).”
Harbhajan Singh
Yuzvendra Chahal leads India in T20I wicket-taking with 96 in 80 appearances at an economy rate of 8.19. Chahal has 121 wickets in 72 One-Day Internationals at an economy rate of 5.26.
“I don’t think that selectors had a chat with Rahane, Pujara, or Umesh Yadav” – Harbhajan Singh on India’s Test squad for South Africa
Harbhajan Singh seemed upset. The selection committee hadn’t picked Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Umesh Yadav. They are not playing in the two-match Test Series against South Africa. This displeased him.
Harbhajan believes the selection committee should have spoken with the older players before naming the Test team.
“South Africa tour is not easy. It’s tough for batters,” Harbhajan Singh said. “There you won’t have Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. Youth are indeed getting opportunities. It’s a good thing. But I don’t think that selectors had a chat with Rahane, Pujara, or Umesh Yadav because whenever Yadav has played in Tests, he has performed.”
Harbhajan Singh
He Added:
“I think the road is tough for a comeback (for these three players),” the cricketer-turned-commentator continued. “However, they have served Indian cricket, and are renowned cricketers. The board should have had a chat with them. They should have been informed why they are not picked and what is a possible path for them in their careers.”
Harbhajan Singh
Ajinkya Rahane returned to the spotlight in the 2023 World Test Championship finale. This right-hander was India’s top scorer, hitting 89 and 46 runs in the first and second innings. However, the 35-year-old only scored three and eight runs, respectively, in his two games against the West Indies.
Cheteshwar Pujara scored 649 runs in eight games for Sussex in the 2023 County Championship at an average of 54.08, including three tons and two fifties. The 35-year-old scored 14 and 27 points in his final Test against Australia in the 2023 World Cup final.
Umesh Yadav also played his final Test in the WTC 2023 final, taking two wickets. He has 28 wickets in 12 Tests since 2020. In the 2023 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he took 15 wickets in six matches.