Indian cricket team included R Ashwin into the playing eleven against New Zealand in the first T20I and left out Yuzvendra Chahal. Ashwin was part of India's T20 World Cup 2021 squad, while Chahal was ignored for the tournament.

Now, as the preparation for T20 World Cup 2022 has started, former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori expressed his surprise over Chahal's omission from the playing eleven in Jaipur. He felt Chahal should have been picked considering the team is being built keeping the next ICC tournament in mind.

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Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Vettori said, "Venkatesh Iyer, who is being rewarded for his form in the IPL. It's sad to see Chahal not being given the same opportunity. We all know what Ashwin can do, is he going to be in the starting XI for the World Cup next year, who knows?

"But Chahal was bowling exceptionally well and was a wicket-taking option for Kohli throughout the IPL. He is one of the best T20 leggies in the world."

Chahal had done well in the second phase of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) which brought him into the squad for the ongoing T20I series.

"At the time, the decision was probably right to leave him out of the World Cup squad but then the Chahal that we saw in the IPL, was the Chahal we all know. Chahal bowled quicker in the IPL, trying to spin more, and attacked the stumps more often. So, I thought he deserved the opportunity to come back into the starting XI tonight after being left out earlier," he further said.

Ashwin picked up two wickets in the first T20I against the Kiwis and gave only 23 runs in 4 overs. India will play their second match in Ranchi on November 19.

(With ESPNCricinfo Inputs)