Analysis
20-20 World Cup 2022: Three ways Yuzvendra Chahal’s absence impacted Team India
The Indian team bowed out of the 20-20 World Cup 2022 after their humiliating 10-wicket defeat against England in the semi-finals.
The Indian team bowed out of the 20-20 World Cup 2022 after their humiliating 10-wicket defeat against England in the semi-finals. While the team did not make many changes in its playing XI, fans and experts weren’t entirely pleased with some selections. Yuzvendra Chahal warming the bench for all the games was one of the criticisms that the team management had to face. In this listicle, we will look at how the leg spinner could have impacted India’s performance in the tournament.
1. Spin-friendly tracks
Yuzvendra Chahal (Source: Twitter)
The wickets in Australia are generally excellent for fast bowlers to bowl on. However, with games repeating at the same venues, the spinners were also in action in this edition. Many teams took advantage of these favourable playing conditions.
On the other hand, India did not take much advantage of this. They played Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel, who are not the biggest turners of the ball, as the two spinners in all games. Chahal could have taken complete advantage of these conditions.
2. Wicket-taking ability
Yuzvendra Chahal (Source: Twitter)
The leg spinner is one of the most reliable bowlers in the shortest format of the game. Any team he plays for can count on him to take a few wickets. In the sem-final game against England, he could have been vital to break Alex Hales and Jos Buttler’s partnership that stole the game from India.
The 32-year-old has proven his wicket-taking prowess in the international circuit. In the 69 T20I that he has played for India, Chahal has taken 85 wickets. Chahal’s stats in the last edition of the Indian T20 League also give him the edge. He took 27 wickets in 17 games to claim the purple cap.
3. Bigger boundaries in Australia
Yuzvendra Chahal (Source: Twitter)
In comparison to the rest of the world, most stadiums in Australia have larger boundaries. Leg spinners have an advantage bowling in these conditions because hitting against the spin can be difficult with large boundaries to cover.
Chahal, undoubtedly, is one of India’s best leg-spinners at the moment. He could have fared well for India, especially in their games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Sydney Cricket Ground.
