Sunil Gavaskar criticizes Rohit Sharma & Co for not picking R Ashwin

Renowned former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar expressed his strong disapproval of the Indian team’s decision to drop R Ashwin in the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) against Australia. As the first day of the final Test unfolded with impressive performances from Travis Head and Steve Smith, Gavaskar came down heavily on the Indian think-tank for their team selection.

The absence of top-order Test bowler R Ashwin raised eyebrows as he was a key figure during India’s successful Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign against Australia in the previous edition of the WTC. Another veteran cricketer Sourav Ganguly also believed that India missed a crucial opportunity by not including match-winner Ashwin. Meanwhile, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting suggested that India had fallen into a trap by dropping Ashwin from the lineup.

Gavaskar reiterated the sentiments expressed by Ganguly and Ponting in his assessment of India’s performance on the first day. He criticized Rohit Sharma and the team management for neglecting to include Ashwin, pointing out that the number one bowler in Test cricket should have been an automatic choice in a prestigious event like the WTC final. Gavaskar questioned the decision to include Umesh Yadav, who failed to make a significant impact after replacing Ashwin.

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Ashwin’s absence was also evident during India’s tour of England, where he was not given a chance to play in any of the four Test matches. Ashwin’s prowess against left-handed batsmen, dismissing him more than 229 times in Test matches, was another aspect that Gavaskar highlighted. With four left-handed batsmen in the Australian side, Gavaskar found it puzzling that no off-spinner was included in the Indian team.

Lunch on day 2: Stew:

India made a spectacular comeback in Tests by taking four wickets in the season :clap:

follow the #WTC23 final :point_right: pic.twitter.com/p5QHjhTFME

– ICC (@ICC) June 8, 2023

As the first day of the WTC final drew to a close, it became clear that India’s decision to drop Ashwin did not work in their favour. With Ravindra Jadeja as the lone spinner, Australia’s Smith and Head put in a sensational performance, helping their team post an impressive 327-3 in 85 overs.

The exclusion of R Ashwin from the playing XI sparked a heated debate among cricket fans and experts. Only time will tell whether India’s decision to ignore the experienced spinner will prove costly in their quest for the coveted WTC title.

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