Ashwin questioned the rationale behind India carrying 5 spinners for their campaign in Dubai.
Like many other experts and former cricketers, Ashwin questioned the rationale behind India carrying one too many spinners for their campaign in Dubai.
India had named three spin-bowling all-rounders -- Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar -- and one premier spinner -- Kuldeep Yadav -- in their provisional squad.
After Bumrah failed to recover from the back injury he sustained during the BGT last month, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee added another spinner -- Varun Chakaravarthy – to the squad, albeit in place of young batter Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was relegated to the reserves list.
"What I don't understand is the number of spinners we are taking to Dubai. 5 spinners and we have made Yashasvi Jaiswal sit out. Yeah I understand that we take 3 or 4 spinners for a tour. But 5 spinners in Dubai? I don't know," Ashwin said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
"I think we are one spinner too many if not 2. The 2 left-arm spinners are your best all-rounders alongside Hardik Pandya. So both Axar and Jadeja are going to play. Hardik will also play and Kuldeep will play. If you want Varun Chakaravarthy in the team, then you will have to make a pacer sit out and use Hardik as your second pacer. Else you will have to drop a spinner to bring in a 3rd seamer," he added.
Ashwin expects Kuldeep to feature in starter XI, which means Varun might not get the opportunities. However, the recently-retired star wondered whether India are expecting spin-friendly tracks in Dubai.
"I don't think there is any doubt that Kuldeep Yadav will walk into the team. So how will you make space for Varun. Is he bowling well? Of course. Either you bring in Varun and Kuldeep as a duo, which I feel would be good. But my question is, in Dubai, are you expecting the ball to turn? I feel a bit uncomfortable with the team," Ashwin remarked.
The Rohit Sharma-led Indian team will open their Champions Trophy campaign on February 20 against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.