India’s veteran leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has been away from international cricket for some time now. Although he was part of India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024, he did not get a chance to play a single match. Chahal last featured for India in August 2023 against the West Indies.
Yuzvendra Chahal on retirement and social media trolls
Recently, Chahal appeared on Sports Tak's special show Salaam Cricket, where he spoke openly about his career and shared his thoughts on several important topics. From dealing with social media trolling to his retirement plans and India’s strength in T20 cricket, Chahal spoke with confidence and optimism about the future.
The 35-year-old spinner said that online trolling does not affect him much. However, he admitted that it hurts when people bring family members or others into personal matters. According to Chahal, such things should not be taken too seriously, and a player’s focus should always remain on the game.
Addressing retirement rumours, Chahal made it clear that he has no plans to step away anytime soon. He said he wants to play for another five to six years and will continue as long as he enjoys being on the field and feels passionate about cricket.
"It doesn't affect me much. I want to play for five-six more years for India. I will continue playing until being in the field makes me happy. The day I stop feeling, I will retire from cricket" said Chahal.
Chahal on Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma
Chahal also made a strong statement about India’s chances in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He said that India have the quality to beat any team and can only lose if they make mistakes themselves. He believes the current squad has the right mix of experience and young talent.
Praising his teammates, Chahal called Jasprit Bumrah the best bowler in the world and described Hardik Pandya as India’s most important all-rounder. He also highlighted young players like Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma, saying their aggressive style of play has added fresh energy to the team.
"Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma have brought fearless mindset to the team. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya will make huge difference. Bumrah is the world number one bowler Hardik's all-round skills makes him irreplaceble" said Yuzvendra Chahal.
India will start their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against the United States on February 7 at iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.