‘They just gave him a lollypop to suck on’: Harbhajan on Chahal’s inclusion in ODIs | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: After being ignored for the recently concluded ODI World Cup and Asia Cup, Yuzvendra Chahal has been recalled into the Indian team for the three-match ODI series against South Africa. Interestingly, the selectors have opted not to include him in the T20I squad for the series.
Reacting to Chahal’s inclusion in the ODIs, former India spinner Harbhajan Singhdoesn’t seem to be impressed with the selectors call.He expressed his surprise at Chahal’s omission from the T20Is.”There is no Yuzvendra Chahal in the T20 format. You kept him in ODIs but not T20Is. They just gave him a lollypop to suck on. We won’t take in the format where you do well but will take for other formats. It’s beyond my understanding,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.
What lies ahead for Pujara, Rahane and Umesh
The selectors have also decided to move on from Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane as both the seasoned batters were ignored for the Test series in South Africa. Rahane, who scored 89 in the World Test Championship final, has probably played his last Test along with Pujara.

Harbhajan reckoned the path to make a comeback for Rahane and Pujara into the national side will not be easy and the board should have apprised them about what lies ahead for them in the future.
“I think the road is tough for a comeback. They have served Indian cricket, and are renowned cricketers. The board should have had a chat with them. They should have been informed why they are not picked and what is a possible path for them in their careers,” he said.

“South Africa tour is not easy. It’s tough for batters. There you won’t have Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. Youth are indeed getting opportunities. It’s a good thing. But I don’t think that selectors had a chat with Rahane, Pujara, or Umesh Yadav because whenever Yadav has played in Tests, he has performed.”