Harbhajan Singh comes out in support of Yuzvendra Chahal over his snub from India’s Asia Cup 2023 squad

The Indian cricket squad, which was chosen on Monday for the 2023 Asia Cup has created a storm. The 33-year-old leg-spin bowler Yuzvendra Chahal saw his name being snubbed from the 17-man squad. This move from the Indian selectors saw lots of backlash from the fans. Many former players and some noted voices also expressed their shock and questioned the reason behind the move.

Former Indian off-spin legend Harbhajan Singh is the latest to question the non-selection of Chahal. Harbhajan, one of the most successful spinners, called out the selectors over the treatment meted out to Chahal. The Indian selectors during the press conference had noted that Kuldeep Yadav was ahead in the pecking order in the spin department.

Harbhajan Singh throws his weight behind Yuzvendra Chahal 

Former Indian spin legend and two-time World Cup winner, Harbhajan Singh is known to be outspoken. The 43-year-old wasn’t pleased with the non-inclusion of Chahal in the 17-man squad for the 2023 Asia Cup which starts on 30^th August.

Harbhajan Singh, who is currently playing in the US T10 Masters League, pulled no punches when he was live on his YouTube Channel. The former Indian legend said, “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 a genuine spinner, I don’t think there’s any better bowler than Chahal in the white-ball format. Yes, his last few games weren’t good, but that doesn’t make him a bad bowler”

Since making his Indian ODI debut in 2016, Yuzvendra Chahal has played 72 games and picked 121 wickets. Chahal is tied in 18^th place with Jasprit Bumrah, who also has played the same amount of games and picked the same amount of wickets in ODI cricket for India. Chahal has picked five wickets on two occasions, with a best of 6/42 against Australia in early 2019.

Harbhajan rounded up his thoughts on his official YouTube Channel and hoped for Chahal to make a quick comeback. Harbhajan said “I think his presence in the team was necessary. I hope the doors aren’t closed on 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 have stayed intact. Any other player who comes back after being dropped, the pressure to perform is always there”