Team India’s legendary spinner Harbhajan Singh has criticized the team management for their defensive playing XI selection after their humiliating loss against England in the T20 World Cup final.
Harbhajan Singh believes Yuzvendra Chahal must have been a part of this Indian side as he’s the most attacking spinner in the squad.
Harbhajan Singh questions Yuzvendra Chahal’s exclusion from playing XI
Team India regularly played with two spinners in the T20 World Cup but they preferred Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin as Yuzvendra Chahal didn’t get even a single game.
“It is hurting, more because we did not fight at all. I don’t know what are the reasons that a champion bowler (Yuzvendra Chahal) is not in the team. He must have done something to someone that he is not getting a game. With his credentials he should have been your first-choice spinner,” Harbhajan Singh said on India Today in the Battle of Champions show.
“India batted like ODI in first 10-12 overs like they still had 40 more overs to play. India should learn this format from England. They played like champions. It is very disappointing to see India’s approach throughout the tournament where they did not look like they would score more than 35 runs,” Harbhajan added while questioning the approach of Indian batters.
Ravichandran Ashwin was constantly been criticized for his defensive line and lengths throughout the tournament while Axar Patel didn’t get enough overs as Hardik Pandya was bowling well. The duo leaked 57 runs in 6 overs amongst them and remained wicket less against England. The Adelaide wicket had some turn to offer for spinners. However, the team management still didn’t include Yuzvendra Chahal in the playing XI.
On the other hand, England used their leg spinner Adil Rashid effectively as he just gave 20 runa of his four-over spell while picking the all important wicket of in-form Suryakumar Yadav. Liam Livingstone too bowled some crucial middle overs as the conditions were offering some help for the spinners.
India’s humiliating loss against England has been criticised a lot by former players and cricket fans as the approach was quite difficult to understand on a pitch which was ideally suited for the Indian Team.