'One thing is lacking': Harbhajan Singh slams India for leaving out 'proven match-winner'

The Indian cricket team selection committee headed by former Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar, ended the wait for the much-awaited announcement of the Indian squad for Asia Cup 2023. Where big names like KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, have made a comeback to the team after recovering from injury, leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has been snubbed from the squad. In place of Chahal, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been picked for Team India in the Asia Cup 2023 squad. 

3 things you need to know 

• The Asia Cup 2023 will begin from August 30, 2023 
• Pakistan and Nepal will play the opening match of the Asia Cup 2023 
• Team India will begin their campaign in the Asia Cup 2023 against Pakistan on September 2, 2023 

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Harbhajan Singh questions Indian management on Yuzvendra Chahal's snub 

(Team India leg spinner while bowling against South Africa in 2022 / Image: BCCI) 

Former Indian cricket team spinner Harbhajan Singh has slammed the Indian team management and the selection committee for excluding Yuzvendra Chahal from the Asia Cup 2023 squad. Kuldeep Yadav was picked in the Indian cricket team squad as the only main spinner, whereas, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are included as spin bowling all-rounders. Harbhajan Singh said on his official YouTube channel: 

The one thing I feel is lacking in the team is the absence of Yuzvendra Chahal. A leg-spinner who can get the ball to turn away. If you talk about genuine spinner, I don't think there's any spinner in India better than Chahal in white-ball formats. Yes, his last few games weren't good, but that doesn't make him a bad bowler. 

I think his presence in the team was necessary. I hope the doors aren't closed to him. It's important to consider him for the World Cup because the tournament is in India. Chahal is a proven match-winner. I can understand his form isn't good, so you may have rested him. But I think if he was with the team, his confidence would've stayed intact. Any player who comes back after being dropped, the pressure to perform is always there.

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How will be Team India's ODI World Cup 2023 squad? 

While announcing the squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, the Indian cricket team's chief selector and former Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar informed that the probable Indian squad for the ODI World Cup 2023, will revolve around the players selected for the Asia Cup.  The Asia Cup 2023 will be a tremendous opportunity for the Indian cricket team management to test their players ahead of the ODI World Cup 2023. The tournament consists of two top Asian teams Sri Lanka and Pakistan, who can give very tough competition to the 'Men in Blue'.