Yuzvendra Chahal experienced his “saddest moment” during the T20 World Cup when he was left out of the Indian squad, which ultimately failed to progress beyond the Super 12 stage.
The tournament marked the end of Virat Kohli‘s tenure as the captain of the Indian T20 team, and the team’s early exit further added to the disappointment.
Notably, Kohli had announced before the tournament that this would be his last stint as captain in the shortest format.
India’s campaign got off to a disastrous start with a 10-wicket defeat against Pakistan, followed by a nine-wicket loss to New Zealand, effectively sealing their fate.
The omission of spinner Yuzvendra Chahal from the squad was one of the selection decisions that drew criticism.
Chahal had been in good form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier that year, which coincidentally took place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – the same venue as the T20 World Cup.
Chahal admitted that not being selected for the tournament was the lowest point for him
During a podcast interview with YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadia, Chahal revealed his emotions at the time. He shared how he felt immensely sad when he found out about his exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad.
Chahal recalled that he had to continue playing in the IPL in Dubai, where he was accompanied by his wife.
They had to catch a flight to Dubai the day after the squad announcement to resume the IPL matches that were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chahal expressed gratitude for having his wife by his side during this challenging period, as her presence helped him control his anger and frustration.
Chahal also reflected on the unique situation of playing under Kohli’s captaincy for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL while being left out of the national team where Kohli was also the captain.
Despite his disappointment, Chahal stated that he never questioned anyone about the reasons behind his non-selection.
Although Chahal’s form in white-ball cricket had dipped earlier that year, he had performed exceptionally well in the IPL 2020 edition held in the UAE.
Although he had a slow start in the IPL 2021 season, Chahal regained his rhythm during the UAE leg of the tournament.
Kohli acknowledged that dropping Chahal and opting for young leg-spinner Rahul Chahar was a challenging decision.
Kohli cited Chahar’s ability to bowl with more pace and effectiveness in slower UAE wickets as the factor that tilted the balance in his favor.
Chahal demonstrated resilience and a strong mindset as he focused on his remaining IPL matches for RCB after being left out of the T20 World Cup squad.
He credited his wife for helping him cope with the disappointment and encouraging him to channel his anger and frustration onto the field. Chahal’s determination shone through as he ended up taking 18 wickets in 15 IPL games that season.
Although the T20 World Cup exclusion was undoubtedly a low point for Chahal. He acknowledged the importance of moving forward and giving his best for his IPL team.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.