IND v ENG 2021: “Tell me where to fit Ashwin in T20 side when Sundar is doing the job,” Kohli says

R Ashwin last played a limited overs international for India in 2017.

Indian captain Virat Kohli attended the virtual press conference on the eve of the first T20I against England and was asked if R Ashwin, who was the Player of the Series in the Test matches, can make a comeback in the T20I side.

Ashwin picked 32 wickets in 4 Tests and scored a century in the second match at his home ground in Chennai, to help India win the match by 317 runs. However, he has been out of India’s limited-overs plans since 2017, when he had last played an ODI and a T20I for the Men in Blue.

Virat Kohli played down the possible return of the seasoned off-spinner in T20Is. He mentioned that Washington Sundar had done a great job with the ball bowling in powerplays thus far for the side and unless he has an extremely poor series, he remains the first choice for the Men in Blue.

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"Washington has been doing really well for us. You cannot have two players (Washington and Ashwin) of the same discipline playing in one spot so unless Washi has a drastically horrible season and things go south for him, I mean the question should be asked with some kind of logic as well. You suggest where you would add Ash when Washington does that job for the team," Kohli said in a virtual press conference on Thursday.

The Indian skipper pointed out how players need to have top-notch fitness if they want to play for the country. His words came after Varun Chakravarthy reportedly failed his fitness test at the NCA and may be replaced by Rahul Chahar in the T20I squad.

"Individuals have to understand and appreciate the kind of system that's been created for the Indian cricket team. We should operate at a very high level of fitness and skills, there is a reason why this is a top of a ladder when it comes to playing cricket in our country," said Kohli.

"You would obviously expect players to abide by what's required to be a part of team India and there can't be a space to comprise in that regard," he added.

(ANI inputs)