Ravichandran Ashwin, the Indian right-arm spinner has been included in the India squad for the West Indies T20I series. His inclusion that has come after eight long months certainly threw cricket fans surprised.
Indian cricket board announced the T20I squad for the West Indies tour and it came with some interesting changes. Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested, meanwhile Ashwin, who hasn’t played a T20I match since November 2021 looked out of contention for the upcoming T20I World Cup, but his inclusion in the squad has thrown a new spin on the matter.
Ashwin’s last T20I match was against New Zealand on November 19, 2021, which India won on the back of a half-century from KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma. Ashwin bowled four overs in that match and took just one wicket giving 19 runs in the process.
He however continues to play T20 matches for his Indian T20 League team Rajasthan. In the recently concluded Indian T20 League, the Chennai-born took 12 wickets in 17 matches at an economy of 7.51. He also contributed with the bat on many occasions for the finalists. In 17 matches Ashwin made 191 runs at an average of 27.29 and strike rate of 141.48.
Ashwin has been in the news recently for his criticism of English pitches and dissatisfaction with the ODI format. Speaking on a podcast hosted by Michael Vaughan the Indian spinner said, “Even me as a cricket badger and a cricket nut, I switch off the TV after a point and that’s frankly very scary for the format of the game. When those ebbs and flows go missing, it’s not cricket anymore. It is just an extended form of T20.”
Ashwin has taken 61 wickets in 51 T20I that he has played for his country. His T20I career seemed to have faded but his surprise inclusion in the team raises many eyebrows. Twitter was flooded with opinions about this surprising move from Indian selectors. Let’s look at some of them.
Ash for Win! ?@ashwinravi99 makes a return to India's T20I side for their series against the West Indies. ?? pic.twitter.com/Qg5vfin9Hi
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) July 14, 2022
Ravichandran Ashwin returns into the T20 team after 8 long months.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 14, 2022
Ashwin back in the T-20 frame for Windies is an interesting move
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) July 14, 2022
Good to see Ashwin back in the mix for T20s. In the absence of W Sundar, he's the only one who provides India with a defensive spin bowling option who can bowl in the PP too.
His batting improved too in the IPL, though I am not sure, how useful will it on pitches in AUS.
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) July 14, 2022
what is Ashwin doing in T20 cricket??? @bhogleharsha
— Sagar Sawant (@sagsaw) July 14, 2022
Reason for Ashwin's recall? He had a poor ODI series against SA in SA & a very ordinary IPL too. To me it doesn't make any sense seems more like a back door entry for the WC selection.
— Manwinder Singh (@ManwinderS1ngh) July 14, 2022
Kya bhashad hain!! Why Ashwin again? How many spinners they want to take to Australia? Chahel, Jadu and one back up either Bisnoyi/kuldeep is enough in t20 wc.
— Aswin (@aswiniray) July 14, 2022
Which Criteria or which performance basis Ravichandran Ashwin backs in T20 ?
If he is good then why he is dropping from SA, IRE, ENG series?
Yhis Test match player doesn't make place in team in Outside asia countries,can he deserve in scheme of WC which is in Australia#BCCI— Sorav Rajput (@imsoravparmar) July 14, 2022
GOAT selectors:
Ashwin plays world cup
Ashwin does well in world
Ashwin gets dropped after Nz series from Lois
Ashwin isn't consider of any of the loi games after that
We start to think he is out of consideration for world cup 22And then bang, Selectors get him right back in ! https://t.co/lDfK95jxNe
— Camlin Oil Pastels ? (@CamlinTweets) July 14, 2022
BCCI before selecting iyer over of sanju, resting kohli,chahal after handful of matches and selecting rr machine Ashwin pic.twitter.com/Fnzfx2lKBS
— YouAreWrong?¹? (@huihui_____) July 14, 2022
People here thinking @ashwinravi99 is brought in as a off spinner. The reality is Ashwin will bat at No. 3 for India in the World T20. Our new hitter.
Ravi Bhai supremacy??— Ripson Lobo (@Ripsylobo12) July 14, 2022
Man, WI tour is a very bad preparation for a WT20 in Aus. Completely chalk-and-cheese conditions!
Hope Ashwin & Shreyas Iyer don't make it to Aus WT20, but these are just the type of pitches they will thrive on. Don't be surprised if they end up as best performers in WI!
— Cricketjeevi (@wildcardgyan) July 14, 2022
