Former Indian cricketer Akash Chopra He spoke about Yuzvendra Chahal's exclusion from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad. He pointed out that despite good performances, the leg-spinner has been sidelined from the Indian team.
Indian national cricket team player Yuzvendra Chahal has been completely sidelined from the squad and it is fair to say that his return seems a long way off now. From being one of the biggest match winners to anywhere near backstage, he has had a major downfall.
Yuzvendra Chahal has played 121 wickets at an average of 27.13 in 69 ODIs.
Yuzvendra Chahal, who played a vital role for India in the ICC World Cup 2019, has not played a single international match for the team since January 2023. He was not even part of the squad in the ICC World Cup 2023 and now he is not playing. He was selected in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy squad.
Yuzvendra Chahal has a great record in ODIs. The leg-spinner has picked 121 wickets at an average of 27.13 in 69 ODI innings. In their 2025 ICC Champions Trophy squad, India have selected four spinners Kuldeep Yadavravindra jadeja, Axar PatelAnd Washington Sundar.
His file has been closed – Aakash Chopra on Yuzvendra Chahal
But Aakash Chopra said that selecting Yuzvendra Chahal in the team would have been a regressive move as he had been out of the mix for a long time. However, he was amazed at the way the leg-spinner was sidelined despite his good record. He said in a video clip he posted on his YouTube channel:
“An interesting case is that of Yosi Chahal. He last played in January 2023. It's been two years for him. It's interesting because Bovey would have been expensive and wouldn't have taken a wicket in the last 10 matches before he was dropped, but Yozi Chahal figures Very good too, he picked up a lot of wickets and performed well consistently.
“However, it is completely gone. His file has been sealed. I have no idea why they did that. Having said that, because it has been two years since it was sealed, there is no place for Yuzi here either because once if I suddenly picked him up out of thin air, he would be looked at.” “It is a regressive step.”
If someone has not been in the ODI preparation for three years, how can they attend? – Aakash Chopra on Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Aakash Chopra saw it too Bhuvneshwar Kumar He cannot be selected as he has not played this format since 2022. He stressed that three years is a long gap and bringing him back into the team would be a backward step. He added:
“Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played an ODI match in January 2022. He has not played ODI cricket since then. If someone has not been in the ODI set-up for three years, how can he come? Three years is a long time.”
“If he wasn't part of the team for three years, you guys would only be doing the selectors a disservice if they kept him in the team. Then that would have been seen as a reactionary move in terms of what happened to your other fast. Bowlers for you to go back to Bhuvi for that “There was no room for Buffy here.”
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