The Indian cricket team will be playing the 3-match ODI series against Australia starting from tomorrow and what has left many people surprised is the call back given to veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who has played only 2 ODIs in the last six years. It all happened because Axar Patel got injured during the Asia Cup and Washington Sundar was added to the team as his replacement.
Senior Indian cricketer Amit Mishra shed his opinion on this matter in a show and he said that Ashwin was out of ODIs because of his fielding and not because of his bowling and most probably a younger spinner such as Washington Sundar would be preferred for the ODI World Cup.
Amit Mishra said, “The Indian team will be looking at how Ashwin will be bowling against Australia, and to assess if he still has the wicket-taking abilities in this format. The only reason why he is not in the team is because of his fielding and right-handed batting ability. Jadeja and Axar are both lefties. Washington is a young player and has shown wicket-taking abilities apart from being a batting option. Plus, he provides an advantage with his fielding, something which holds importance in ODIs.”
Amit Mishra concluded his statement with, “Ashwin is undoubtedly a quality bowler and a wicket-taker, but remember this is not a 20-over game. It is 50 overs. You have to bowl for 10 overs and field for 40 overs and might have to bat as well. No doubt he has been around for so long and has been a wicket-taker as well, but there is that matter of fielding as well and that is why a young player might be picked. The only reason he has been picked is because if a spinner gets injured, then the team needs to have a wicket-taking option, which Ashwin brings. Ashwin has got an edge as an off-spin option, as India already has two left-arm spinners and a wrist-spinner in Kuldeep Yadav.”
Amit Mishra does sound logical, what do you say?
