Written by Vaibhav Tripathi
Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, currently ranked as the No.1 bowler and No.2 all-rounder in the ICC Test Rankings, was left out of the final match of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) against Australia. The decision to drop Ashwin and include Shardul Thakur in the playing XI for this crucial Test may come as a surprise, but it is not unprecedented for the Indian team.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bowl first, taking into account the overcast conditions at Kia Oval. With the pitch showing a greenish tinge and the unpredictable weather in England, the team management made the decision to exclude Ashwin and opt for Thakur as the second all-rounder. This also meant that wicket-keeper batter Srikar Bharat retained his spot in the XI, denying a Test debut to Ishan Kishan.
The omission of Ashwin has raised eyebrows among fans and cricket pundits, including Ricky Ponting and Michael Vaughan, who expressed their surprise and bewilderment. Ashwin has performed well in previous Tests in England, taking 18 wickets at an average of 28.11 and a strike rate of 66.7. He has also contributed with the bat, scoring 261 runs at an average of 23.72 in 14 innings.
“India have made a mistake of picking a bowling attack just for first innings of the game. Australia have many left-handers; Ashwin would trouble the left-handers more than Jadeja. I saw the grass, yes there was grass but the deeper I looked, it seemed dry to me,” Ricky Ponting said on-air on Star Sports.
“It’s an after-thought. I don’t believe in afterthoughts in cricket. As a captain you take decision before the toss. India had decided they would field and that’s why they went with four fast bowlers. Having said that, in the last couple of years, they had success with four fast bowlers. But if you ask me, if I was captaining and every captain is different, I would find it very very hard to keep a quality spinner like Ashwin out of the XI.” – Sourav Ganguly told host broadcasters after the first session.
The exclusion of Ashwin from the playing XI has triggered lively debate on social media platforms, captivating fans and experts alike. With his absence becoming a prominent topic on Twitter, the decision has garnered significant attention. The outcome of this bold move by the Indian team in the final match of the WTC against Australia remains uncertain, and cricket enthusiasts eagerly await to witness its impact on the game.
Twitter reactions:
No @ashwinravi99 for #India is a big mistake .. !! #WTC2023
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 7, 2023
Timid selection decisions from India. Kishan v Bharat was a no-brainer for a one-off Test. Ashwin would’ve brought that ‘finals’ mentality through the game + great record v Smith and also the left handers
— Sreshth Shah (@sreshthx) June 7, 2023
Last test Ashwin played in England was the 2021 WTC Final, in conditions not at all close to assisting spin
Ashwin 4/45
Rest of the bowlers 8/313The genius thinktank hasn’t played Ashwin in England since then.
— Krishna Kumar (@KrishnaKRM) June 7, 2023
Risky to pick a playing eleven for a five-day game based on atmospheric conditions half an hour before the start. Think Ashwin would have been an asset, especially if there’s a bit of bounce. #WTCFinal2023
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) June 7, 2023
It is quite unbelievable that a champion spinner like R Ashwin has been benched for six Tests in a row in England #WTCFinal
— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) June 7, 2023