Gavaskar has thrown new punches at the current Rohit and Dravid administration, as well as their predecessors Kohli and Shastri, regarding the Ashwin conundrum.
Although it has been two days since India lost to Australia in the World Test Championship final by a humiliating 209-run margin, the debates continue because many people are still reeling from yet another agonizing loss of an ICC trophy.
India ought to have batted first. Imagine a scenario where Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid misread the circumstances.
Should Ishan Kishan have been chosen over KS Bharat? And most importantly, did India make a mistake by not including the No. 1 Test bowler, Ravichandran Ashwin, in their playing XI?
Thoughts in hindsight are wonderful, matches are not won on the basis of “what could have been.” And Ashwin’s situation is as puzzling as it gets.
He is easily the best spinner in the world, has taken over 470 Test wickets, was the third-highest wicket-taker in the recently concluded WTC cycle, and continues to be a nightmare for left-handers, five of whom were in the Australian lineup.
Which is the reason Ashwin’s oversight bombs rationale. Removing nothing from Ravindra Jadeja, Ashwin is all class and miles in front of him as a spinner. It was acknowledged by even the great Sachin Tendulkar.
The legendary Sunil Gavaskar, who has previously criticized management for the contentious call, has landed fresh blows at the current regime of Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid and their predecessors, Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri.
This comes as the Ashwin debate continues to rage.
“India dropped Ravichandran Ashwin, the No. 1 positioned bowler in the game, as per the ICC rankings. Five left-handed pitchers made up the Australian team.
“Who knows what might have transpired if Ashwin had been a part of the team. He might have been able to help with the bat as well.
No other top-class Indian cricketer in the advanced period has been treated as bafflingly as Ashwin has been.
Please inform me if there was a No. 1 ICC-positioned hitter in the group.
Could he have been avoided with regard to the playing XI in light of the fact that in prior times.
He had not got runs on a verdant pitch or on the other hand in the event that he had not scored runs on a dry twist well disposed pitch? Absolutely not.”
Ashwin had been dropped six times in a Test match in England. Already, during India’s five-Test series of UK in 2021.
Ashwin was dropped from every one of the five games at Trent Extension. Master’s, Headingley, The Oval and the rescheduled series decider at Edgbaston in Birmingham the year after the fact.
Here Ashwin’s record isn’t the most scary however neither appalling – 18 wickets from 7 Tests. The last time he played there was during the 2021 WTC last where he got four wickets and gave India trust in the two innings.
Despite his credentials, the same Ashwin was unable to secure a spot when spinner conditions improved on Days 4 and 5.
“On account of Ashwin, despite being the best bowler, he isn’t generally the primary spinner to be utilized.
Goodness indeed, there are reasons given that there were correct handers at the wrinkle.
So a left-given spinner was given the ball or the breeze was blowing in a specific heading or the bowler’s completion footmarks were for the left-given spinner.
So on as though Ashwin has just left-given hitters as his wickets,” Gavaskar added.
“This is not acting wise after the fact, but rather following a pattern that has developed over time. He would have played over 100 Test matches if not for this “hard to understand thinking.”
With the two most experienced batters in the team together. The fourth day’s pitch was significantly smoother, and it could have been a thrilling conclusion to the Ultimate Test match.
We should not be blinded by India’s victory to Ashwin’s treatment, and regardless of the explanation.
The bowling results in the match in which India are required to chase 444 indicate that dropping him was not the right decision.”