Harbhajan Singh drops his verdict, reveals which player's absence from India squad for Asia Cup 2023 will play a factor

Harbhajan Singh opens up on Chahal's Asia Cup snub (Source: Twitter)

Indian star leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was snubbed from the Asia Cup 2023 squad after his recent form, but veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh has backed Chahal and criticized the management for keeping him out. The Rohit Sharma-led side is going with two spinners for the continental championship starting on August 30 - Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. 

Chahal last played an ODI at the start of the year against New Zealand. His last game for the Men in Blue was in the recently concluded T20I series against the West Indies, where the Indian side lost the five-game series by 2-3. The main motive of the Indian team will be to prepare for the ODI World Cup 2023 by playing in the Asia Cup. A 17-member travelling squad, with Sanju Samson being named the reserve player has been announced. 

I don't think there's any spinner in India better than Yuzvendra Chahal: Harbhajan Singh

“The one thing I feel is lacking in the team is the absence of Yuzvendra Chahal. A leg-spinner who can get the ball to turn away. If you talk about genuine spinner, I don't think there's any spinner in India better than Chahal in white-ball formats. Yes, his last few games weren't good, but that doesn't make him a bad bowler," Harbhajan said while speaking on his YouTube channel.

“I think his presence in the team was necessary. I hope the doors aren't closed to him. It's important to consider him for the World Cup because the tournament is in India. Chahal is a proven match-winner. I can understand his form isn't good, so you may have rested him. But I think if he was with the team, his confidence would've stayed intact. Any player who comes back after being dropped, the pressure to perform is always there," he further added. 

The 16th edition of the continental championship will be hosted jointly by the two countries, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The Men in Blue are the most successful side in Asia Cup history with seven titles. This time Indian skipper Rohit will be leading them in the third Asia Cup as skipper. India won the Asia Cup under his leadership in 2018. In the last edition, the Asian Giants failed to reach the Finals as their campaign was limited to the group stage.