Former BCCI selector in chief MSK Prasad has expressed surprise that leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was overlooked in the Indian squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021. He called Chahal India’s best T20 bowler when it came to taking wickets.

The new BCCI selection panel led by Chetan Sharma went with R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Akshar Patel, and Rahul Chahar as the spinners for the T20 World Cup to be played in UAE and Oman from October 17.

Rahul Chahar got the nod over Yuzvendra Chahal, as the chief selector went for Chahar’s speed of bowling over Chahal’s experience. MSK Prasad, though surprised over Chahal’s exclusion, saw the logic behind the decision, explaining what could have led to Chahar getting the nod.

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"I think he is our best T20 bowler in terms of wickets. He has done superbly in the last 4-5 years. Fortunately, or unfortunately, what the selectors must have thought is the competition between Rahul Chahar and Yuzvendra Chahal. On flat wickets like in Bangalore, he (Chahal) has never disappointed his captain Virat and he's always given you wickets," Prasad told Sports Tak.

Prasad also pointed out that Chahal's form in the last couple of years had seen a slump, while Chahar's stocks had risen, having picked up 13, 15, and 13 wickets respectively in the last three seasons of IPL while playing for Mumbai Indians.

In 2020, Chahal played just 4 ODIs for India, picking up seven wickets, and represented in 9 T20Is, where he took seven wickets.

"But if you see his performance in the last year, year and a half, there is a little dip in his performance. Rahul Chahar on the other hand has played an important role in winning back-to-back IPL titles for Mumbai Indians. Probably that went on Chahar's favor," Prasad added.