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Speaking in a conversation with former India opener Aakash Chopra, Chahal said Rohit made the selection rationale clear while he was playing county cricket in 2023. According to Chahal, the team wanted batters to contribute as far down as No. 8 and was considering an extra fast bowler for the tournament.
Chahal’s account suggests the decision was driven by the team’s preferred combination rather than a lack of communication. He said that after the World Cup, he stopped worrying about selection.
Chahal, a leg-spinner who had represented India in white-ball cricket, was not included in the 15-member squad for the 2023 tournament on home soil. He last played an ODI for India in January 2023, according to The Indian Express report.
The selection reflected a balance-of-the-side debate: India prioritised batting depth and pace-bowling options while leaving out a specialist leg-spinner. Chahal’s comments offer his account of the reasoning communicated to him at the time.
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