Ravichandran Ashwin has decided to hang up his boots. The 38-year-old has left a huge void. It wasn’t just his bowling but also his willow-wielding skills. Only one in the history of Test cricket has claimed 450 or more wickets and has hit at least 5 centuries, and that’s Ashwin. No one knew, but even in the Adelaide Test, he was one of India’s better batters.
Ashwin, the all-round great
He managed to outscore Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli in the match. He got one wicket in his final game but had troubled Australian batters consistently, which included creating chances against the dangerous Travis Head. But his services can’t be used by captain Rohit Sharma anymore. Ashwin’s already left for home, and Team India would enter the Boxing Day Test one man short.
Latest on Indian Cricket
Who will be Ashwin’s replacement for Boxing Day Test?
Team India had already brought three spinners, including Ashwin. Washington Sundar had played in Perth and Ravindra Jadeja in Brisbane. All of them, have done well when given a chance. Considering that only spinner has been picked in the first three games, you don’t really need a call in a replacement for Ashwin.
In the two remaining matches, either of Jadeja or Washington can take over with ease. One can’t forget head coach had already chosen to play Washington over Ashwin despite both being off-spinners. Considering they are available, calling one of Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav won’t be needed. And they already have enough pacers and batters as well.
India’s squad for Boxing Day Test
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Rohit Sharma (c), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Mohammed Siraj, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravindra Jadeja, Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep
Editor's Pick
Cricket
Unpopular Opinion: Rohit Sharma should take a cue from Ashwin's retirement, exit gracefully
Top Stories
