Team India’s leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal could not play in the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy between Haryana and Jharkhand in Pune on Thursday 18 December. The senior leg spinner later revealed the reason for his absence from the cricket field and confirmed that he was suffering from both dengue and chikungunya.
Chahal took part in the opening matches of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Haryana, where he took three wickets in his first three matches. However, he missed the rest of the group stage, the Super League stage and the summit clash. The veteran cricketer was last seen in competitive action on November 30.
Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is battling dengue-chikungunya combo.
Yuzvendra Chahal was ruled out of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final due to illness and could not take the field for Haryana. Chahal revealed that after being diagnosed with dengue and chikungunya, doctors had advised him to take complete rest. The spinner said he was disappointed to miss the final.
Chahal tweeted, “All the best to my team Haryana for the SMAT final. I wanted to be a part of the team but unfortunately I am suffering from dengue and chikungunya, which has really taken a toll on my health. The doctors have said to just focus on rest and recovery. I will be back on the field soon and will bowl to my best.”
Ishan Kishan gives first SMAT title to Jharkhand
Ishan Kishan performed brilliantly in the final of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and led Jharkhand to the title for the first time. Batting first, he played an explosive innings and scored 101 runs in just 49 balls with the help of 10 sixes and laid the foundation of a huge score.
Kumar Kushagra, who scored 81 off 38 balls, and Kishan stitched a decisive partnership that took Jharkhand to a mammoth score of 262 for 3. Anukul Roy also made an impact with both bat and ball, adding runs quickly and then opening with the ball.
Chasing a tough target, Haryana struggled to survive. Yashvardhan Dalal fought back by scoring a half-century, but the team lost wickets continuously. Anukul Roy, Sushant Mishra and Bal Krishna kept up the pressure and bowled out Haryana for 193 runs.
The 69-run win sealed Jharkhand’s first SMAT title and the first time in almost two decades that a new champion won the trophy. Kishan capped off a remarkable tournament by finishing as the leading run-scorer.
Yuzvendra Chahal aims to make a comeback in Vijay Hazare Trophy after illness
Yuzvendra Chahal is targeting a return to competitive cricket in the Vijay Hazare Trophy starting December 24 as he looks to regain match fitness after his recent illness. He has not confirmed the exact date of return but is likely to return in the 50-over domestic tournament.
Chahal has been away from the Indian senior team since August 2023 and did not even play in the T20 World Cup last year. The spinner remained active playing county cricket in England, where he represented Northamptonshire.
During that stint, he took six wickets with a controlled economy rate in the One-Day Cup and 12 wickets, including a five-for, in the County Championship.
In the IPL, he has been retained by Punjab Kings for the upcoming season after the team reaches the final in 2025. Chahal would be keen to use the Vijay Hazare Trophy to get his form back.
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