Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the key players that you may not see as you watch Asia Cup Live streaming in New Zealand.
His exclusion from the 17-man India’s Asia Cup 2023 squad stirred an uproar from veteran cricketers.
While most pundits embraced the India Cricket team announced on Monday, former players like Madan Lal and Karsan Ghavri took issues with the team that the selection committee assembled with Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal’s absence as their primary concern.
According to India captain Rohit Sharma, the Agarkar-led committee favored Kuldeep Yadav as their lone specialist spinner, dropping Ashwin and Chahal, the latter missing out due to his shortcomings with the bat.
In his stead, India preferred two left-arm spin-bowling all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.
Karsan Ghavri did not hide his sentiments, claiming that Ashwin deserved better treatment from the Indian team management, citing his contribution of 712 international wickets for the Indian team.
Ashwin is India’s leading wicket-taker among all active cricketers and only second to Anil Kumble (953) in the 17-member Indian side’s all-time highest wicket-takers.
But there is hope for cricket fans looking to see the veteran cricketer as they watch Ind vs Pakistan in New Zealand. The off-spinner, who’s also decent with the bat, could be a last-minute addition to the India team for the ODI World Cup this year, just like in last year’s T20 event.
Gharvi and India’s 1983 World Cup-winning all-rounder, Madan Lal, lamented Ashwin and Chahal’s absence from the Asia Cup, adding that the players will be critical bowlers if included in the India ODI World Cup team.
Lal bitterly reminded the India team management of Ashwin’s absence in the WTC final against Australia, saying it cost them.
The 1983 World Cup winner also questioned the physical and mental fitness of long-term absentees such as KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who are just back from injury layoffs. He was worried they’d struggle with their form during the Asia and World Cup.
Ghavri was also not impressed with Tilak Varma’s call-up for his ODI debut. Despite Varma’s strong performances during the tour of the West Indies, the veteran thought Yashasvi Jaiswal would have been the better selection for the Asia Cup 2023.
The India ODI team will face a crucial test in a few days when they take on their arch-rivals, Pakistan. The critics and the team selection committee will have a chance to prove themselves.