Sunil Gavaskar slams Team India, says ‘there is no other top-class cricketer like Ravichandran Ashwin’

Former India opener Sunil Gavaskar believes that no other top cricketer has been treated as disrespectfully in India as top off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who was dropped in the world’s 209-run defeat by Australia. Was dropped from India’s playing XI. Test Championship (WTC) Final at The Oval.

The dilemma of whether or not Ashwin should be in the playing XI was a major topic of discussion in the run-up to the WTC final, leading to contrasting opinions. His exclusion from the playing XI, as India lacked ball control, drew severe criticism from former cricketers from both countries.

“No other top-class Indian cricketer in the modern era has been treated as shockingly as Ashwin. You tell me that if there was a number 1 ICC ranked batsman in the team, would he have been dropped from the playing XI just because he did not get runs on grass pitches in the earlier times or if he did not score runs on the ground Dry spin friendly pitch? Definitely not.

“This is not an afterthought, but a pattern that has been observed over the years,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for the ‘Mid-day’ newspaper.

“Even if India win, we should not turn a blind eye to the treatment meted out to Ashwin and whatever the explanation, the bowling results in a match where India were asked to chase 444,” he said. , tells us that it was not right to exclude him. call to make,” he said.

With 474 wickets in 92 matches at a strike-rate of 51.8, including 32 five-fors per innings, Ashwin, the top-ranked Test bowler, was left out of the marquee clash as India preferred four pacers despite the presence One of five left-handed batsmen in Australia’s batting order. Ashwin was also ruled out of India’s matches in England in 2021 and 2022, with conditions being cited as the reason.

According to the ICC rankings, India ousted Ravichandran Ashwin, the No. 1 bowler in the game. The Australian team had five left-handers and while one left-hander – Travis Head – scored a quick century in the first innings, another southpaw Alex Carey scored 48 in the first innings and 66 not out in the second.

“During that second innings effort, he put on 93 with another left-hander, Mitchell Starc, when India were looking to dismiss Australia cheaply in the second innings. Who knows what could have happened if Ashwin was in the team? He could contribute with the bat as well,” Gavaskar said.

Sunil Gavaskar said, “No other top-class Indian cricketer in the modern era has been treated as shockingly as Ravi Ashwin. If someone was the No. 1 ranked batsman, would he have been dropped just because he had previously No runs were scored. on a grass pitch”. pic.twitter.com/e67s1kjW2A– Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 13, 2023

He also expressed his disappointment with India’s shot selection in the match, especially in the second innings. “For me, though, the shot selection of skipper Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara was the disappointing aspect of the Indian innings. Why Pujara attempted the ramp shot is difficult to understand as it is not a shot that he plays regularly.

He said, ‘Even trying two balls after Rohit’s dismissal was questioning the thinking of that time. Pujara is known for his patience and willingness to strike but retain possession of the crease so why on earth was he looking to play that shot when runs were not needed but wickets were needed to be saved ,” wrote the former Indian skipper.

“Pressure can get a player to do strange things and that is why Test cricket is the highest form of the game and the World Test Championship final, the last Test match,” he concluded.