Dinesh Karthik opens up on why Yuzvendra Chahal and Harshal Patel didn't get a chance to play in 20-20 World Cup

Indian team and the management are continuously on the receiving end of a backlash following their embarrassing defeat against England in the second semi-final of the 20-20 World Cup 2022. The former cricketers and fans are questioning the difference of choice between the selected squad with the playing XI the Indian team played with.

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Fans were also unhappy with Indian management’s decision not to play leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in a single match of the eighth edition of the 20-20 World Cup. Apart from that, the Gujarat-born pacer Harshal Patel also had to sit on the bench throughout the entire tournament.

Meanwhile, after the conclusion of the tournament, senior Indian wicketkeeper-batter, Dinesh Karthik was in a conversation with Cricbuzz. In this conversation, he talked about the reasons behind the omission of Chahal and Harshal from playing XI throughout the entire tournament.

They were very aware and were preparing in such a way - Dinesh Karthik

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“They didn’t sulk or get upset once because they were very sure. At the start of the tournament, they were told that under these conditions, we would be playing you; otherwise, it might be difficult. So, they were very aware and were preparing in such a way that when they get an opportunity, they would try and do their best, but there might be a chance that they ended up not playing,” said Karthik

Later on, the Tamil Nadu veteran also mentioned the tactic of the coach and captain to choose between the players in the squad. He also talked about Chahal who was continuously in the headlines for being excluded from the marquee tournament in Australia.

“So, when that clarity is there from the coach and captain, it makes the job easier for the player because you just start looking inward and thinking, okay what do I do to start preparing better? That is what they were doing; had they been given a chance, they would have given their best. This is a very high-intensity tournament. “As mentioned, he played a lot of matches for India and he knows the feeling of being dropped,” he added later.