India vs Australia 2023

Selectors exclude Yuzvendra Chahal for Australia T20Is, leggie reacts with mysterious tweet

Following the announcement, Chahal issued a mysterious tweet comprising a smiling emoji.

Nov 21, 2023 12:42 pm

Ahead of the 5-match T20 series against Australia, commencing on Thursday, November 23 in Visakhapatnam, the Indian Cricket Board unveiled a 15-member squad yesterday. Suryakumar Yadav has been bestowed with the captaincy, while Ruturaj Gaikwad will assume the mantle of vice-captain for the first three matches.

It is understood that Shreyas Iyer was also in line to become captain but following an arduous World Cup journey, he has been granted a well-deserved respite for the initial three games. He will make a return for the final two matches, also reclaiming the vice-captaincy from Gaikwad.

The squad wears a similar look to the one that toured Ireland for a 3-match series ahead of the Asia Cup. One notable change is the exclusion of Sanju Samson with Ishan Kishan being picked in the former’s place. VVS Laxman will assume coaching duties in the absence of a regular coach as the incumbent setup’s contract has expired. Whether the same set of people will be retained or not is something that only time will tell.

Yuzvendra Chahal’s cryptic tweet ignites discussion

Another player who failed to find a place in the T20 side is Yuzvendra Chahal which has further fueled speculation about his standing within the team. The leg-spinner’s exclusion, following his omission from the World Cup squad, has ignited a debate about his prospects in the Indian setup.

Following the announcement of the squad, Yuzvendra Chahal responded with a cryptic tweet, consisting of a single smiley emoticon. His exclusion from the team, despite his consistent performances in the IPL, has left many perplexed. Chahal’s impressive record, including the ‘Purple Cap’ for being the highest wicket-taker in 2022 and 21 wickets in this year’s edition, makes his omission even more puzzling. His tweet suggests that he remains unfazed by this setback and will continue to persevere.

As aforementioned, the first match will be contested in Visakhapatnam before the action shifts to Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, and Raipur before culminating in Bengaluru. The series will conclude on December 3 after which the Indian Team will embark on a multi-series tour of South Africa.