Shikhar Dhawan and 2 Other Indian Stars Missed their Last World Cup?

Yuzvendra Chahal, the talented wrist spinner from the Rajasthan Royals, finds himself sidelined from the national squad for the third consecutive ICC event in both white-ball cricket formats. Chahal’s last appearance for India in a major tournament dates back to the 2019 World Cup, and his absence has garnered attention.

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In the 50-over format, Chahal boasts a commendable track record, amassing 121 wickets in 72 matches for India at an average of 27.13, an economy rate of 5.27, and a strike rate of 30.90. Despite his consistent performance in 2022, he faces stiff competition from Kuldeep Yadav, who has been in exceptional form.

Chahal’s 2019 World Cup journey saw him claim 12 wickets in eight matches. However, his performance waned in the latter stages, with underwhelming figures of 0/88 (10 overs) against England, 1/50 (10 overs) against Bangladesh, and 1/63 (10 overs) against New Zealand.

Shikhar Dhawan, a prolific ODI opener of his generation, has left an indelible mark on Indian cricket. With 6,793 runs in 164 innings at an average of 44.11, Dhawan has been a consistent performer at the top of the order. His remarkable record in ODI tournaments further cements his legacy, with 1,772 runs in 29 innings at an average of 63.29, including eight centuries and six half-centuries.

Dhawan’s golden bat triumph in the 2013 and 2017 editions of the Champions Trophy highlights his prowess. However, as he approaches 38, it appears increasingly unlikely that he will feature in the future of the Indian team, especially given his absence from the Asian Games squad. India also possesses promising left-handed openers in Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ishan Kishan, offering viable alternatives.

Ravichandran Ashwin, renowned as one of the finest Test cricketers of his generation, has seen a decline in his limited-overs international career. In ODIs, he has scalped 151 wickets in 113 matches, but his last appearance for India in this format dates back to January 2022, with only two appearances since the 2017 Champions Trophy final. Nevertheless, he remains a part of the T20 World Cup setup.

Ashwin was a pivotal figure in India’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad and featured prominently in the 2015 edition. However, his name was conspicuously absent from discussions surrounding the 2019 campaign. At 36 years old, it appears increasingly unlikely that he will be part of India’s limited-overs setup. The focus now turns to maximizing his contributions in Test cricket.