With a five-wicket haul in the county, India's forgotten hero sends a strong message to Agarkar and the BCCI: "He does this every time."

 While most of Team India’s top cricketers are gearing up for the Test series against Bangladesh starting September 19, a few players who have been sidelined are working hard to make a comeback. Ajinkya Rahane and Yuzvendra Chahal are among those making headlines with standout performances, reminding everyone that they still have plenty to offer.

With a five-wicket haul in the county, India's forgotten hero sends a strong message to Agarkar and the BCCI: "He does this every time."

Rahane, once a key player in India’s Test team, recently scored his 40th First-Class century, hitting 102 off 192 balls for Leicestershire against Glamorgan. But it’s Yuzvendra Chahal who has been making waves with his bowling in the County Championship. Chahal, representing Northamptonshire, took an impressive five-wicket haul against Glamorgan, putting his team in a commanding position. This is the second time in just a month that Chahal has taken five wickets in a match, having previously destroyed Kent with 5/14 in August. On Tuesday, he was at it again, dismissing key batsmen like Wayne Madsen, Aneurin Donald, Zak Chappell, and others. This latest performance marked his third First-Class five-wicket haul.

Chahal’s brilliant form is a clear message to the BCCI selectors, who seem to have moved on from the leg-spinner. Once a crucial part of India’s white-ball spin attack alongside Kuldeep Yadav, Chahal has faded from the spotlight over the last few years. Despite being part of India’s winning T20 World Cup squad in 2023, he didn’t get a single game, a repeat of what happened in the 2022 T20 World Cup, where he remained on the bench.

So, how did Chahal slip out of favor? His last appearance for India was in August 2023 during a T20I against the West Indies, and his most recent ODI was way back in January of the same year. Over the past year, he hasn’t featured much for India and wasn’t even considered for the 2023 ODI World Cup. In Test cricket, he’s never been in the running, with players like Ashwin, Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav ahead of him.

But Chahal, once a star for both India and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, is proving that he still has what it takes. His stellar performances in county cricket could reignite interest from the selectors. This could be the start of his comeback to the national team, a chance for him to reclaim his spot and show the world he’s far from done.