Yuzvendra Chahal is preparing to participate in three four-day matches for Kent County in the near future. He wasn’t chosen to represent Team India in the 2023 ODI World Cup, as the selectors decided to pick Kuldeep Yadav as the primary spinner, with support from all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.
Notably, Chahal hasn’t had the opportunity to play red-ball cricket for India and has only made 33 appearances in first-class matches throughout his career. In these matches, he has taken 87 wickets at an average of 35.25. His most recent appearance in this format was for Haryana during the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy season.
As per information reported in the Times of India, the County team is on the verge of making an official announcement, as the player has already obtained the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). A source within the governing body informed TOI:
“The Kent County Cricket Club will make an official announcement regarding this development soon. Chahal will play three four-day games for them. The BCCI has granted NOC to him to play County cricket. Should he be a requirement for the India team, Chahal will join the national squad immediately.”
Several Indian cricketers are in England during the off-season to stay in shape. Arshdeep Singh played for Kent last year, and Sai Sudarshan, Jayant Yadav, and Umesh Yadav will soon participate in the County Championship.
“Naturally, it is very disappointing to miss out any selection for India” – Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal, who was once India’s top white-ball spinner, has seen a notable decline in his status. He remained on the sidelines during the 2022 T20 World Cup and has gradually slipped down the hierarchy in the ODI team, making way for fellow wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
In 2023, he has featured in just two ODIs, as the team preferred the successful combination of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. Chahal expressed his aspiration to make a return to the national team through his upcoming performances, stating to TOI:
“Naturally, it is very disappointing to miss out any selection for India. As a cricketer we must accept that some things don’t always go our way. I must continue to try my best and hopefully my performances will justify selection again for India.”
He added:
“Rahul Dravid Sir speaks so highly of his time in County cricket. I really wanted to play (in County cricket). I cannot explain how grateful I am of my good friend Brindon who helped me in such short notice.”
Yuzvendra Chahal has a special connection to England in white-ball cricket, highlighted by his exceptional 2019 ODI World Cup performance.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
