Chahal ready to grab his ODI chance if and when he gets it

Yuzvendra Chahal hasn't played an ODI since January 2023. He's been a regular in India's ODIs squads over the last year or so but doesn't get much game time at the moment because of the preferred team combination.

When playing away from home, India usually field only two spinners - Ravindra Jadeja as the spin allrounder and Kuldeep Yadav as the wristspinner.

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.

"The team combination is the most important thing for us," Chahal said ahead of the second T20I against West Indies. "And it's not just now. If you see, at No. 7 either Jadeja or Axar [Patel] plays. So depending on the wicket we play three spinners. Right now Kuldeep is bowling well, his rhythm is good, so he is getting to play. I just keep practising in the nets so that whenever I get a chance I can grab it."

Since his last ODI, against New Zealand in January 2023, India have played two ODI series - against Australia at home before the IPL and in the recent West Indies. Chahal was part of both squads but did not play a game. The first T20I against West Indies in Tarouba was his first international in over two months.

"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."

The World Cup squad will comprise only 15 players and if there is space for only three spinners it could come down to a choice between Chahal and Axar, assuming Jadeja and Kuldeep take two spots. While Axar is a left-arm spin allrounder like Jadeja, Chahal offers legspin as opposed to Kuldeep's left-arm wristspin, giving the squad more variety.

Since July 2022, when Axar returned to the ODI fold after over four years, Chahal's wicket-taking record has been superior. While Chahal has picked up 17 wickets in nine matches with an economy rate of 5.94, Axar has bagged 13 wickets in 13 games with an economy of 4.82. On pitches where India need a wicket-taking option in the middle overs, Chahal could offer more striking ability than Axar. What works in Axar's favour, however, is his batting ability that gives India a solid No. 8, especially if the XI is without Shardul Thakur.

"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."