"I am personally slightly surprised" - Aakash Chopra on Kuldeep Yadav's unavailability for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

Aakash Chopra has expressed slight surprise about Kuldeep Yadav's unavailability for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He noted that the left-arm wrist-spinner is part of the squad for the third Test against New Zealand but is ruled out of the Australia tour.

The selectors picked an 18-member Indian squad for the five-Test tour of Australia on Friday, October 25. Kuldeep wasn't considered as he has been referred to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for long-term resolution of his chronic left groin issue.

During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Chopra noted that the batting selections are along expected lines. However, he questioned Kuldeep's non-inclusion among the spinners.

"It's along the expected lines if you talk about batting. It has Abhimanyu Easwaran, which means you will have the option of an opener if Rohit (Sharma) misses a match. You probably had the chance of taking only three spinners, although you could have also taken 19 instead of 18," he said.

"The third spinner in that now is Washington Sundar and not Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep Yadav is not there to heal a chronic injury. He is available for the next match but is not going for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. I am personally slightly surprised. You could have probably resolved the injury later," the former India opener added.

Rohit Sharma could reportedly miss either the first or the second Test against Australia. Abhimanyu Easwaran could make his debut if that happens, unless the team management want to use either Shubman Gill or KL Rahul as an opener for that game.

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"What exactly has happened that Yash Dayal, without even playing, is now not worthy of going to Australia?" - Aakash Chopra

Yash Dayal was part of India's squad for the Test series against Bangladesh. [P/C: BCCI/X]

In the same discussion, Aakash Chopra pointed out that Mohammed Shami's unavailability makes the fast-bowling unit slightly inexperienced. He also questioned Yash Dayal's non-selection.

"Mohammed Shami is not fit, that's big news. The fast bowling is looking slightly less experienced. I think that's a big concern. The question is that Yash Dayal was part of the team for the series against Bangladesh. What exactly has happened that Yash Dayal, without even playing, is now not worthy of going to Australia?" he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator wasn't convinced with Harshit Rana's selection ahead of Dayal and Mukesh Kumar.

"I have nothing against Harshit Rana but your pecking order used to be slightly different. Mukesh Kumar also used to be there. Now he is part of the traveling reserves. He is going as a net bowler. It seems at times that consistency is missing. In my opinion, Yash Dayal could have been an option if he had been invested in," Chopra observed.

Dayal has been picked in the Indian squad for the upcoming four-match T20I tour of South Africa. Mukesh is among the three traveling reserves for the Australia tour, with Navdeep Saini and Khaleel Ahmed being the others.