T20 World Cup 2024: Harbhajan Advocates for Chahal’s Inclusion and Experienced Lineup

'Chahal is being ignored, There's no better, braver spinner than him': Harbhajan Singh

India wrapped up their final T20I series ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup with a triumphant 3-0 victory over Afghanistan. The return of captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, absent for over 14 months in the format, marked a significant moment for the team. Notably, key players like Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav were absent due to injuries, while spinners Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar played pivotal roles in the series.

Yuzvendra Chahal, once a crucial spinner in ODIs and T20Is, has witnessed a decline in his presence in white-ball cricket over the past year. Harbhajan Singh finds it perplexing why Chahal has been excluded from the T20I side and believes he should be the first-choice spinner for India in the T20 World Cup. Harbhajan emphasized the importance of spinners on the USA and West Indies pitches and suggested that Chahal, along with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, should be considered for the spin attack.

Harbhajan stressed the need for experience in the squad, supporting the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli despite potential concerns over disrupting the batting order. According to Harbhajan, experience is crucial in World Cup tournaments, and the inclusion of seasoned players is essential for success.

Regarding the upcoming Test series against England, Harbhajan expressed skepticism about England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach, led by captain Ben Stokes. He believes the conditions in India will favor spinners from the first day, making it challenging for England. Harbhajan emphasized the significance of the toss on turning wickets and suggested that England might struggle unless the pitches offer little assistance to spinners.