T20 World Cup 2021: Only India can explain why they didn't select Chahal, benched Ashwin- Salman Butt

Team India failed to take single wicket against Pakistan in their first match of T20 World Cup.

By Ankitjit Singh - 28 Oct, 2021

Former Pakistani cricketer Salman Butt has questioned Team India for not including Yuzvendra Chahal in their T20 World Cup 2021 squad and then not bringing in R Ashwin in the team in their tournament opener against Pakistan.

Team India’s loss against Pakistan in their first match of the T20 World Cup 2021 campaign has invited criticism regarding the selection of the team. After displaying a poor batting performance against arch-rivals, the Virat Kohli-led side failed to take even a single Pakistani wicket. 

Questions regarding the selection of ‘unfit’ Hardik Pandya and the non-inclusion of Yuzvendra Chahal have been raised after Men in Blue were clueless against the Pakistani batters. 

Former Pakistani opener Salman Butt also questioned Team India’s selection for the mega event, saying that in conditions like Dubai a team needs to have pacers who can click 140 plus as medium pacers are not successful at the venue.

He added that the Virat Kohli-led didn’t select the quick bowlers despite having some quality pacers .

Read Also: Matthew Hayden says Shaheen's pace got better of Indian batters who faced 130km/h deliveries in IPL

“India has a good pool of players but in conditions like Dubai, you ought to have people who can bowl 140+. You need to have 2-3 options. 

“Medium pacers are not successful here. You need to have perfect spinners or pacers who can clock 140+ consistently unless they are all-rounders. India has quick bowlers but they didn't select them. And it is not just 140 kmph, it should be quicker as well,” Salman Butt said in a video posted on his YouTube channel. 

Salman Butt cited the example of Australia and Afghanistan sayin that the former has three speedsters while the latter has three excellent spinners.

He pointed out that India too has quality spinners in R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja but only they can explain why Yuzvendra Chahal was not selected in the squad and why R Ashwin was benched against Pakistan. 

“Australia have three solid pacers. Afghanistan have three excellent spinners. India have Ashwin and Jadeja. Only India can explain why they did not select Chahal and why they benched Ashwin,” he said. 

Team India will take on New Zealand on 31st October, in what might be a must-win clash for them.

By Ankitjit Singh - 28 Oct, 2021

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