Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has slammed India team mangement for not picking R Ashwin in playing XI of the first four Test matches against England. Gavaskar also said that picking R Ashwin in India’s World Cup squad is consolation for not playing him in England. Ashwin was picked in Team India’s T20 side after four years. Gavaskar said that it is most unlikely that India will play him in ICC T20 World Cup.
“Ashwin’s return is a good thing but we’ll have to wait and see if he gets a place in the playing XI. You have selected him in the 15, that’s alright, you chose him in the squad in England as well but are not giving him the chance in the XI. So, he’s perhaps just given a consolation cup to make up for the disappointment that he might have from here (in England). Will he play in the XI? Only time will tell, “Sunil Gavaskar said on Sports Tak.
Ashwin last played a T20I in July 2017 against the West Indies. He captained the Punjab team in the IPL in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, bagging 10 and 15 wickets respectively. Ashwin shifted base to Delhi Capitals in 2020 and picked up 13 wickets at an average of 30.07 and an economy of 7.66 in his first season for the side. He featured in five of the eight matches that the Capitals played in 2021, and managed a solitary wicket while he had an economy of 7.73.
Explaining why Ashwin was picked in the squad Chief selector Chetan Sharma said that good performances in IPL led to Ashwin’s selection.
“Ravichandran Ashwin has been playing in the IPL regularly. He has performed well there. When you go into the World Cup, you need an off-spinner, everyone has an idea that the wickets in the UAE will get slower as IPL will also be played there. Spinners will get assistance so having an off-spinner holds the key,” Sharma said.
“Washington Sundar is injured and Ashwin is an asset for the team. He has performed well in the IPL so that is why he has found a place for himself in the squad,” he added.
