The UAE is all set to host another big T20 tournament of the year as the T20 World Cup 2021 is just around the corner. It will be the last tournament for Virat Kohli as the captain of the Indian side. Hence, this will the last chance for him to win a World T20 Title as a captain.
Ahead of the World Cup, the ICC captain’s press conference was held on Saturday in the UAE. Virat Kohli was heard speaking on various aspects of the conference. He spoke about Ashwin’s return to the white ball cricket and finally had his say on Yuzvendra Chahal’s exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad as well.
Virat Kohli speaks on Yuzevendra Chahal’s exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad
Virat Kohli admitted that keeping Chahal out of the T20 World Cup squad was tough to call. Justifying the selector’s decision to exclude Chahal from the squad, Kohli said that it was after keeping in mind the slow nature of the UAE pitches that Rahul Chahar was preferred over Chahal. He lauded Chahar’s performances in Sri Lanka and against England at home. He stated that Chahar was someone who bowled the difficult overs.
“It was a challenging call but we decided to back Rahul Chahar for a reason. He has bowled amazingly well over the last couple of years in the IPL. A guy who bowls with pace, he did really well in Sri Lanka and against England at home as well. He was someone who bowled those difficult overs”
Kohli stated that guys who bowl quick will have more success in the UAE and Rahul Chahar has the appropriate skill-set for that. He admitted that picking a squad for such a big tournament is tough and hard decisions have to be made.
“We believe going on in this tournament, the wickets are going to get slower and slower. Guys who bowl with pace will be able to trouble the batters as compared to those who give it air. Rahul definitely has those strengths naturally as a leg-spinner. He is someone who always attacks the wickets, that is the factor that tilted the thing in favour of him. Picking a World Cup squad is always tricky and you cannot always have everyone in that squad,” Kohli said.
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Recent form of Yuzevendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal had a good IPL season overall as he picked 18 wickets in 15 matches. Though the first half of the tournament was forgettable for him, he managed to better his performance in the UAE leg. In the Sri Lanka tour, he performed really well and was the highest wicket-taker in the ODI series. Rahul Chahar as well had a fruitful Sri Lanka tour as he managed to grab two 3-wicket hauls. On the other hand, he had a pretty sub-ordinary IPL 2021. He was even dropped from the XI in the finishing stages of the tournament.