World Cup 2023: Not picking Yuzvendra Chahal beyond me - Shoaib Akhtar highlights India's 'odd' tactic

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Shoaib Akhtar has called India's decision to ignore Yuzvendra Chahal from their World Cup 2023 squad as mind-boggling. The leg-spinner was first dropped from India's Asia Cup 2023 but captain Rohit Sharma had hinted back then that the 32-year-old could make an entry in the World Cup squad.

However, Chahal's name remained missing as Rohit and chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced India's 15-member squad for the World Cup 2023 on Tuesday. The absence of Chahal has left India without a right-arm spinner for the World Cup 2023 which starts from October 5. Kudeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are the three left-arm spinners.

The former Pakistan pacer has also slammed India's tactic to increase their batting depth when they are failing to post high totals on the board.

"Not picking Chahal is beyond me. The odd thing for India is that when they score 220-230 they increase one batter. If the top 5 do not bat well, how will the no. 8 bat?" Shoaib Akhtar said in a press conference organised by Star Sports on Thursday.

India also do not have a left-arm pacer and Harbhajan Singh pointed out that Chahal and Arshdeep Singh should have been the two players in the squad for the mega event.

"Two players are missing - (Yuzvendra) Chahal and Arshdeep (Singh) - the left arm seamer could have been very useful because he can give early wickets. You have seen that Shaheen Afridi and Mitchell Starc can create a very different kind of impact," Harbhajan Singh said in the same press conference.

"We have picked up 2 left-arm spinners, who are never going to play together and if they have a lot of left-handers in the opposition, they might not play all together. I think Chahal and Arshdeep should have been in the team," he further added.

India will kick off their campaign against Australia in Chennai on September 8.