Why Did Yuzvendra Chahal and Sanju Samson Missed Out on the World Cup Selection?

The Indian management recently announced the highly anticipated squad for the 2023 World Cup, which will be hosted exclusively by India for the first time. Notable names like Ravichandran Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar find themselves on the outside looking in. However, while these exclusions may not be entirely surprising given their limited ODI appearances in the past year, the omission of Yuzvendra Chahal and Sanju Samson has raised eyebrows. 

Chahal’s Dwindling Opportunities 

Yuzvendra Chahal, a skilled leg spinner, has seen his ODI appearances become increasingly scarce. The decision to exclude him from the World Cup squad can be better understood by examining the spinners who have made the cut: Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel. Notably, Kuldeep Yadav is the only one among them who is not recognized for his batting abilities. 

The selectors had to consider the balance of the team, particularly in terms of the spin department. With the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, it became challenging to accommodate two wrist spinners. Kuldeep’s consistent performances and Axar’s ability to contribute with the bat lower down the order made it difficult for Chahal to secure a spot in the squad. 

Speaking about Chahal’s omission from the Asia Cup squad, selector Ajit Agarkar shed some light on the matter, explaining, “Chahal was discussed, but sometimes it is the balance of the side we had to look at. Kuldeep has been really good, Axar has done well, but to fit two wrist spinners was difficult, so Chahal had to miss out.”  

During the 2019 ODI World Cup, Yuzvendra Chahal emerged as a pivotal figure for the Indian cricket team. Not only did he showcase his exceptional skills as a spinner, but he also displayed the heart of a true team player. Chahal’s contributions during that tournament were invaluable, and his commitment to the team’s cause left a lasting impression with his 12 wickets from 8 World Cup games. Kuldeep Yadav, who has now been chosen above him for the World Cup in India, managed to take only 6 wickets in 7 games. 

Chahal had a sublime 2022, having picked 21 wickets in 14 games for the Indian team. However, as 2023 approached, the team management chose to give Kuldeep Yadav more chances despite Yuzvendra Chahal being in form. While Kuldeep got to play 13 games in 2023, Chahal got to feature in only 2. 

Team Management’s Overcorrection

The selectors seem to have learned a crucial lesson from the heartbreaking defeat against New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup Semi-Final: the importance of having all-rounders in the squad who can contribute not just with the ball but also with the bat. Shardul Thakur‘s inclusion signifies this shift in strategy. While his bowling may not have been consistently outstanding in recent times, Thakur’s ability to chip in with crucial runs down the order has not gone unnoticed. 

In a striking contrast to the past, the composition of India’s top five in the current squad for the 2023 World Cup raises an intriguing question: Where are the part-time bowlers? Looking back to India’s victorious 2011 World Cup campaign, the team boasted a lineup that included part-time spinners like Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, and Yusuf Pathan. These players could seamlessly contribute with the ball whenever the team needed it. 

Fast forward to the 2023 World Cup squad, and the top five batters are primarily specialists in their domain, with minimal bowling capabilities. While the top order’s primary responsibility is to score runs, the absence of part-time bowlers among them can limit the team’s flexibility in adapting to various match situations. 

Samson ignored despite his numbers 

The exclusion of Sanju Samson from the World Cup squad appears more perplexing at first glance. Samson has displayed impressive performances in his relatively short ODI career, even when playing out of his preferred position in the middle order. His batting records at No.5 and No.6 speak volumes about his potential.

At No.5, Samson has amassed 104 runs in five matches, and at No.6, he has contributed 180 runs in four matches. However, the competition for spots in the batting lineup is fierce. With Shreyas Iyer’s return from injury, he reclaimed the No.4 spot that he had made his own last year. Hardik Pandya’s automatic selection at No.6 further limited Samson’s chances. Additionally, Ishan Kishan‘s exceptional performance at No.5 during the recent Asia Cup match against Pakistan made him a difficult player to ignore and has even put KL Rahul’s place in the squad in danger. 

Adding to the selection dilemma is the return of KL Rahul. Despite his inconsistencies in other formats, Rahul boasts an impressive record at No.5 in ODIs. He has scored 742 runs in 18 matches at an average of 53.00. Rahul’s inclusion in the squad, along with Kishan’s rise, creates a dilemma for the team management in choosing their No.5 batter and wicketkeeper. 

In situations where both Rahul and Kishan are unavailable for a match, India seems to have placed their trust in the wildcard option of Suryakumar Yadav (SKY). While SKY is renowned for his T20 prowess, he admits to struggling in the ODI format. Moreover, he is not a wicketkeeper, raising questions about who would take on that role in the absence of Rahul and Kishan, especially given the absence of official reserves in the squad.  

While the absence of Sanju Samson and Yuzvendra Chahal is a topic of debate among fans and pundits, the chosen squad reflects the Indian management’s strategy and their quest to assemble a formidable team for the 2023 World Cup on home soil.

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