In a surprising move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has included leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in the ODI squad for the upcoming series against South Africa. Chahal, known for his effectiveness in T20 cricket, makes a return to the One Day International (ODI) team after being left out of the Cricket World Cup 2023 squad.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar expressed his surprise at Chahal’s inclusion, stating that he considers Chahal more of a ‘T20 bowler.’ Manjrekar shared his views on the Star Sports show ‘Game Plan,’ emphasizing his excitement for the return of Deepak Chahar and the opportunities provided to Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar.
“I believe Mukesh Kumar is a sturdy and dependable bowler, he has come. Chahal is a surprise inclusion. I thought Chahal was more your bowler for T20 cricket, but there they have got somebody like a (Ravi) Bishnoi,” Manjrekar commented.
Despite the surprise, Manjrekar expressed satisfaction with other inclusions in the squad. He praised the inclusion of Rajat Patidar, stating, “Rajat Patidar – really happy to see him fit and raring to go. A big promotion for Rinku Singh. He has now become a part of ODI cricket. I saw Sanju Samson playing ODIs against South Africa in India, and I got slightly excited there as well, that he is a good option.”
Manjrekar acknowledged the strength of the Indian team, especially the next-generation players, but highlighted the challenge posed by the formidable South African team in white-ball cricket.
“I am always excited when I see India’s second string or next-generation players. It seems like it is a very strong team, but the problem is that South Africa are a formidable team in white-ball cricket and bilateral series. So it will be a stiff test but this team is very good,” he concluded.
The inclusion of Chahal adds an element of intrigue to the ODI series, and fans will be eager to see how the experienced leg-spinner contributes to India’s campaign against South Africa.
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