The 15-member Indian squad that will fly to the UAE for the Asia Cup 2022 was announced last week. Although the inclusion of Deepak Hooda, and Ravi Bishnoi among others was welcomed by the critics, the exclusion of the likes of Mohammad Shami and the in-form leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav met with a lot of criticism.

Recently, former cricketer Aakaash Chopra defended Ravichandran Ashwin’s inclusion while arguing that the veteran off-spinner is an ‘out-of-the-box’ selection.

"Ravichandran Ashwin - he was suddenly an out-of-the-box selection at the last World Cup as well. Here also just before the World Cup he went to the West Indies and is now in the Asia Cup squad, will play the World Cup again, that's what it seems. I think it's not about who is good or who is bad but the point is what sort of a spinner you need,” he said on his YouTube channel.

"He has played five matches since the last T20 World Cup, picked up six wickets, which is not bad, more than one wicket per match. He had an average of 20 and an economy of 6.1, he has been very good, has done exceptionally well in the five matches he has played," he added.

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Chopra talked about Ashwin’s decent IPL 2022 campaign and said that he will be very effective if used in a defensive role.

"But the last IPL's numbers, he plays all the matches now, there he had 12 wickets in 17 matches. He had an economy of around seven, he is always economical, but the average is over 40 and strike rate above 33."

"If you are giving him a defensive role, he will do it to perfection. But if you are expecting wickets from him, be prepared that it might not happen. What role you define for him, that is very important for me," he added further.

India’s campaign in the Asia Cup 2022 will start with them taking on arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium on August 28.

(INDIA TODAY INPUTS)