India are almost certainly going to pick one spin allrounder – Jadeja is first choice with Axar Patel as back-up – in the starting XI for the Asia Cup and World Cup. And with seven wickets in three ODIs in the West Indies, Kuldeep is staying ahead of Chahal in the pecking order for wristspinners.
“Firstly, I’m very happy I get to wear the blue jersey every day and I’m not sitting at home, I’m part of the team,” Chahal said. “It’s not an individual game, it’s a team game so only when 15 players work together you win matches. Only 11 can play at a time. I haven’t played two-three series. You have to see the team combination, and where you’re playing. Like if there’s a turning track, you can play three spinners as well, instead of one or two.
“We are professional players. So even if we are playing after two months, it’s not an issue, like I last played in the IPL. We just keep preparing in the nets. And you are not playing for yourself. There are times when a player doesn’t play for a couple of series but that doesn’t mean that you are out of the team’s plans. What is mainly looked at is the team combination, we have discussions about how many lefties are there in the opposition team.”
“Right now, what’s on my mind is that I am here and there are four games to play and I have to perform,” Chahal said of the remaining T20Is against West Indies. “I don’t think about the things that are not in my hands. First I want to complete this series. I always think step by step. We will have a camp after this and then the team will be announced; these are things for the future. That’s not in my hands. I am here right now and I am not thinking about the World Cup or Asia Cup. I am thinking about the series against West Indies.”
