Shreevats Goswami, the former India U19 wicketkeeper, has reflected on the career of Yuzvendra Chahal and his absence from India’s Test cricket setup. Goswami drew comparisons between some of cricket’s greatest players and discussed the trajectory of India’s leg-spinners over recent decades.
Goswami used sporting analogies to illustrate his point about excellence in cricket. He noted that if Virat Kohli represents one standard of greatness in the sport, then Shane Warne embodied another form of mastery through his craft as a spinner. Goswami expressed his views on Chahal’s career trajectory and what might have been had the leg-spinner been given opportunities in the longest format.
“If Virat Kohli is the Ronaldo of cricket, Shane Warne was the Messi, an absolute magician. But I always think of Chahal, who hasn’t played any Tests for India. If he had played Tests, he could have been one of the greats,” Goswami said while speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast.
“It’s surprising that he has never played a Test for India. Amit Mishra was really good for a brief while. But after Kumble, India hasn’t produced any great leg-spinners,” he added.
Chahal’s absence from Test cricket
Chahal has never featured in a Test match for India, as the national team management has preferred Kuldeep Yadav ahead of him in the selection order for the longest format. The leg-spinner made his ODI debut in June 2016 against Zimbabwe and went on to establish himself as a key player in India’s white-ball cricket setup. Despite his success in limited-overs cricket, the opportunity to prove himself in Test cricket has eluded him throughout his international career.
Chahal’s international career has been marked by significant achievements in limited-overs cricket. He became the second player and the first Indian to take a six-wicket haul in T20 International history, a milestone that underscored his effectiveness in the shortest format. He was part of the Indian squad that won the 2024 T20 World Cup, though he did not play in any matches during that tournament. His white-ball credentials remain strong, yet the Test door has remained closed despite his domestic performances and the demands of India’s spin-bowling requirements.
