Chahal’s omission from T20I squad raises questions as Chakravarthy Ggets nod

Yuzvendra Chahal’s non-selection for India’s T20I series against Bangladesh has sparked discussions about his future in the team. With the T20I series set to begin on October 6, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy was chosen over the experienced Chahal, leaving many puzzled.

Chakravarthy’s inclusion was a surprise, especially since Chahal has consistently performed well for India and in domestic circuits. The decision has raised concerns over what the leg-spinner might have done to be repeatedly overlooked. To add to the confusion, Ravi Bishnoi also made it to the squad, making Chahal’s omission more glaring.

Comparing Chakravarthy and Chahal
Statistically, Chakravarthy did outperform Chahal slightly in the IPL 2024, with 21 wickets in 15 matches compared to Chahal’s 19 in the same number of games. The main differentiator was their economy rates—Chakravarthy was more economical at 8.04 runs per over. However, Chahal has proven his skill recently in the County Championships, claiming back-to-back five-wicket hauls for Northamptonshire, which makes his absence surprising.

Gautam Gambhir’s Influence?
The presence of Gautam Gambhir, head coach of Team India and former KKR mentor, might have influenced the decision. Gambhir has worked closely with Chakravarthy during the IPL season and could have seen something in the spinner that prompted his inclusion over Chahal. However, with both wrist spinners performing well recently, it leaves one wondering what Chahal needs to do to reclaim his spot in the T20I side.