India Squad T20 WC – Ravichandran Ashwin T20 WC? As things stand, Ravichandran Ashwin may not have a future in India’s white-ball squad after all. R Ashwin did not find a place in India’s T20 and ODI squad for England series. And as per BCCI officials, he is not in plans for the T20 World Cup either. That means Ashwin’s stunning return to India’s white-ball squads has been cut short rather pre-maturely. Follow India tour of England LIVE Updates & Indian Cricket LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN.
Ashwin, India’s specialist off-spinner has lost the race in batting despite having scored a half-century in IPL 2022 recently.
To rub salt in his wounds, he is not even the first-choice spinner in SENA countries anymore. Instead, Ravindra Jadeja is the preferred option because of his batting.
“There is a lot of competition for the 2nd spinner role. And we are looking at all-rounders for that particular role. There are Jadeja, Hooda and other wrist spinners who have done better than Ashwin in white-ball. So, for now, he is not in plans for white-ball formats,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
India Squad T20 WC: R Ashwin’s COMEBACK TRAIL to India white-ball squad CUT SHORT, BCCI official says ‘Not in plans for T20 World Cup’
Ravichandran Ashwin T20 WC? Not in PLANS: The primary reason why Ashwin is not being considered in white-ball cricket is his rather orthodox batting. The veteran spinner may be World’s best spinner at the moment but he is not a hard-hitter like Jadeja or even Axar Patel.
India Squad T20 WC: Why R Ashwin isn’t in plans for T20 World Cup?
- The first hint of Ashwin’s axe from the Indian team were given in the midweek after India’s squad for ODI and T20I series in England was announced.
- Ashwin with 5 Test centuries is still ahead of Ravindra Jadeja but he lacks firepower in white-ball cricket.
- Since his return to white-ball, Ashwin has bagged 9 wickets at an economy rate of 5.25 in T20s and just one wicket in two ODIs.
- But it’s his batting that puts Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and recently Deepak Hooda ahead of him in the race.
- With Yuzvendra Chahal set to be India’s first-choice spinner in Australia, India will have to find a part-time option in Axar, Jadeja or Hooda.
- The conditions in Australia will be against him with pace and bounce and India will go for three pacers besides Hardik Pandya, the seam-bowling all-rounder.
- Jadeja is the front-runner for the 2nd spinner/all-rounder role.
- Ashwin is being considered purely for Tests and will continue to be India’s No 1 spinner in the sub-continent.
India Squad T20 WC: R Ashwin’s COMEBACK TRAIL to India white-ball squad CUT SHORT, BCCI official says ‘Not in plans for T20 World Cup’
No more India’s No 1 in SENA countries: Ravichandran Ashwin has also lost the race for the first-choice spinner in SENA countries. Instead with Ravindra Jadeja scoring a century in England and 13 half-centuries in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia (SENA), he has taken the lead. Ashwin only has two half-centuries in SENA and averages just 21.15 in them.
India Squad T20 WC: R Ashwin’s COMEBACK TRAIL to India white-ball squad CUT SHORT, BCCI official says ‘Not in plans for T20 World Cup’
Ashwin vs Jadeja Batting in SENA countries:
Player | Innings | Runs | 50 | 100 | Average |
Ravichandran Ashwin | 47 | 846 | 2 | 0 | 21.15 |
Ravindra Jadeja | 67 | 1809 | 13 | 1 | 32.30 |
Ashwin vs Jadeja Bowling in SENA countries:
Player | Innings | Wickets | 5W | 10W | BBI | BBM | Average |
Ravichandran Ashwin | 42 | 70 | 0 | 0 | Apr-55 | 7/121 | 39.34 |
Ravindra Jadeja | 31 | 48 | 1 | 0 | 6/138 | 7/258 | 36.60 |
India Squad T20 WC: R Ashwin’s COMEBACK TRAIL to India white-ball squad CUT SHORT, BCCI official says ‘Not in plans for T20 World Cup’
However, the BCCI official refused rule out Ashwin in SENA countries. Instead, he said it is up to the team management on his inclusion. If conditions permit, Ashwin will walk in.
However, with India’s four-pacer formula super-hit in overseas conditions, it is unlikely India will revert to the two-spinners and three-pacers formula anytime soon. Shardul Thakur scoring two half-centuries in England besides taking seven wickets in South Africa has complicated the matters.
“Ashwin is crucial to our plans in Test, especially at home and sub-continent. He will continue to be a crucial member. It is up to the team management when and how they want to use him. But with such knocks (century at Edgbaston), you cannot ignore Jadeja in any format,” the BCCI official said.
Follow InsideSport on GOOGLE NEWS/ Follow India tour of England LIVE Updates & Indian Cricket LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN.