'We want batters till No. 8': Chahal Reveals Rohit Sharma's Blunt Message Behind 2023 World Cup Snub

Rohit's Straight Talk: India Wanted Batters to No. 8

Yuzvendra Chahal was among India's most successful white-ball spinners, but his international career changed course in 2023 when he was left out of the squad for the ODI World Cup on home soil. The 36-year-old leg-spinner has now opened up about the decision, revealing that then-captain Rohit Sharma personally laid out the team management's thinking.

Speaking to former India opener Aakash Chopra, Chahal said India prioritised batting depth and the option of an extra fast bowler — a combination that left no room for him.

"In 2023, when I went to play County, Rohit had told me that we want batters till number eight, so we were going with that. He told me clearly that they were also looking for an extra fast bowler for the World Cup. So it was made clear to me. After the World Cup, I just stopped thinking about selection," Chahal said.

Picked for the 2024 T20 World Cup, but Never Used

Despite an impressive record in T20 internationals, Chahal did not feature in a single match at the 2024 T20 World Cup either, having been selected on the back of a strong IPL campaign. His last ODI appearance came in January 2023, and his most recent T20I was in August 2023.

Chahal said he approached the 2024 IPL without putting himself under extra pressure, focusing instead on enjoying his cricket — and his performances caught Rohit's attention.

"In the IPL 2024, I just came to enjoy and did not put extra pressure on myself. That season, I did well, and Rohit told me he wanted me and we would see in the selection meeting," he added.

'I Felt Worse in 2021'

Asked which omission hurt the most, Chahal said missing the squad entirely was harder to accept than being selected and not playing. He explained that being part of the squad at the 2022 tournament at least gave him clarity about his role and the circumstances in which he might feature.

"I felt worse in 2021 because I was not there at all. In 2022, at least I was in the team. Sometimes you also know the combination may not work. So I did not think a lot. But you always feel that you should have at least played one World Cup game. Rohit had told me that I would play only if a particular combination worked. So at least I had the clarity," he said.

County Stint, First-Class Retirement and an IPL Record That Stands

Away from international cricket, Chahal recently completed a County stint with Northamptonshire in August before announcing his retirement from first-class cricket. He finished his first-class career with 148 wickets from 49 matches.

He remains a major presence in the IPL. With 233 wickets in 188 matches at an economy rate of 8.05, he is the tournament's leading wicket-taker, and he is also the highest wicket-taker among Indian bowlers in T20 cricket, with 396 wickets from 343 matches. In T20Is for India, he claimed 96 wickets in 78 matches after making his debut in mid-2016.

Context: Rohit's Standing in Indian Cricket

The revelations come against the backdrop of Rohit Sharma's continued influence in Indian cricket. In September 2026, former India chief selector Chetan Sharma publicly backed Rohit to keep playing ODIs despite debate over his age, calling him and Virat Kohli the "Kohinoors" of Indian cricket and insisting "age is just a number." That endorsement followed India's four-wicket win over New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, where Rohit lifted the trophy and praised his spinners and bowlers for their contributions across the tournament.