BCCI’s decision to include veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin 2-weeks before the marque World Cup 2023, raised many questions as it indicates the selection committee’s favoritism towards certain players. Ajit Agarkar led-selection committee picked two all-rounders ahead of the IND vs AUS series, in the face of Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar as a backup option for injured all-rounder Axar Patel, who hopefully will recover from his injured quadriceps before the mega tournament.
Coach and Captain’s first-choice player
There is no doubt in the ability of Ashwin, but the fact that his selection was so much questioned by former players and fans is that Ashwin hasn’t played an international one-day game for a year. Ashwin had played only a couple of ODI’s in the past six years. While many former players questioned Ashwin’s selection against kangaroos, Indian head coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit Sharma put their faith in Tamil Nadu’s off-spinner.
“Having someone of Ashwin’s experience to come back is always good for us. Someone like Ashwin provides you that experience, that ability to also contribute with the bat at No. 8 and I know has not played a lot of ODI cricket of late but someone of his experience can do that really well,” said Rahul Dravid.
”You can’t leave it on Fate”, Irfan Pathan not happy with Ravichandran Ashwin’s inclusion in Australia ODI series
Former All-rounder, Irfan Pathan was very much surprised by the selection committee’s decision to include a 37-year-old player,
“You can’t get a better spinner than Ashwin in the entire world. But in a tournament as big as the World Cup, Where there is immense pressure, you can’t expect a senior player to walk in and play in a format that he hasn’t played for a long time and prove his worth. So, you are leaving it entirely to fate,” Pathan said.
Ashwin’s selection may have raised a few eyebrows but we do not forget the ability of modern-day spin wizard Ashwin. Ashwin was seen playing a local one-day tournament in Tamil Nadu. If Ashwin gets the chance to play in the World Cup, his experience and tactics surely be much needed in a crunch situation. This incident busted BCCI’s future schemes for the team. Will these delusions of spinners affect Men in Blue’s World Cup dreams?
Read More: IND vs AUS: Ravichandran Ashwin Astonishingly Makes The Cut For Home ODI Series Against Australia