India T20 WC Squad: Ravichandran Ashwin T20 WC: In a make-or-break day for Ravichandran Ashwin, the veteran spinner reigned supreme as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selected him in the India’s T20 World Cup 2022 squad. Ashwin’s primary competition, Ravi Bishnoi, was included as the standby player for Men in Blue in the ICC T20 WC which is set to be held in Australia in October. Follow T20 World Cup 2022 Live Updates of on InsideSport.IN
After the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE, Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India’s best spinners of all time, played only two matches against New Zealand. But for some unknown reason, he was not selected for over 8 months in T20Is. It led many to believe he was no longer important to India in T20 format. He was however selected for the T20I series against the West Indies after an absence of eight months just ahead of T20 World Cup.
India T20 WC Squad: Ravichandran Ashwin gets nod for T20 World Cup, Ravi Bishnoi opted only as standby, Follow LIVE Updates
After series against West Indies, veteran spinner also played two matches in Asia Cup 2022 as the defending champions. But his engagements were limited to just 2 matches as the overwhelming favourites suffered a shock exit in the Super 4 stage.
If selected for the T20 World Cup in Australia, Ashwin will undoubtedly bring his unparallel experience and quality to the team. He is no more an off-spinner in T20 cricket, he is a mystery bowler. The ace spinner has got all the variations up his sleeves.
India T20 WC Squad: BCCI Selection Committee selects Ravichandran Ashwin for World Cup, Ravi Bishnoi opted as standby, Follow LIVE Updates
India T20 WC Squad: Ravichandran Ashwin or Ravi Bishnoi?
- Ashwin brings an unparallel experience and quality to the team.
- He is no longer just an off-spinner in T20 cricket. He is a mystery bowler with all the variations up his sleeves.
- Ashwin had his best year as a batter in IPL 2022.
- He faced over 100 balls for the first time, smashed a half-century for the first time, and blasted over half of his lifetime total (21) of IPL sixes in just one season (9).
- Not to forget Ashwin’s exploits in Australia, the off-spinner in 39 innings has a rich haul of 64 wickets. he is well familiar with the conditions in the land Down Under.
- Talking about his T20I career, the ace spinner has picked 66 wickets in 56 matches with an economy of 6.81 and an average of 21.77.
- What doesn’t work in his favour is his defensive technique as a bowler.
- Ashwin has been more on the defensive side, trying to keep his economy rate low.
- He has been criticised for not attacking the batters in fear of giving away runs.
- Against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in Asia Cup, he missed the trick by trying to be defensive.
- The young spinner who is competing against him is Ravi Bishnoi.
- He lacks variations but his ability to bowl 5 venomous googlies out of six deliveries makes him a valuable addition.
- However, he makes the batting depth weak as Ashwin is proven batter in all formats.
India T20 WC Squad: BCCI Selection Committee selects Ravichandran Ashwin for World Cup, Ravi Bishnoi opted as standby, Follow LIVE Updates
End of Road for Ravichandran Ashwin? The non-selection in the T20 World Cup squad can however end Ravichandran Ashwin’s T20I career for good. As BCCI have other options to replace the veteran Indian bowler and the prominent name which has grab the eyeballs of selectors and fans alike is Ravi Bishnoi.
Bishnoi, a 22-year-old legspinner from Rajasthan who has drawn attention in the IPL with his googly and variations, has not disappointed in any of the 10 T20 Internationals he has played so far since making his debut against the West Indies in Kolkata earlier this year, taking 16 wickets at a 7.08 average.
India squad for ICC T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh.
Standby players – Mohd. Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar.
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