Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter, Parthiv Patel, has made some bold yet surprising remarks on the veteran off-spinner R Ashwin after he returned to India’s T20I set-up for the opening match of the ongoing five-match T20I series against the West Indies on Friday (July 29).
He further predicted that Ashwin is not going to play in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia later this year since he is not as effective as the wrist spinners are. He also claimed that Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Ravi Bishnoi provide more attacking options for Team India.
Patel also said that Ashwin won’t make it to India’s playing XI if the touring side decides to go with two spinners for the second T20I against the West Indies to be played on Monday (August 1).
Parthiv Patel said on Cricbuzz: “I see Bishnoi playing ahead of Ashwin in the next game (if India decides to go with two spinners). I don’t see Ashwin playing the T20 World Cup, to be honest. I would want variety in Kuldeep Yadav, Bishnoi, and (Yuzvendra) Chahal. Wrist spinners give that attacking option in between. Ashwin doesn’t give you that.”
On India’s decision to play three spinners in Ashwin, Bishnoi, and Ravindra Jadeja in the first T20I, Patel said: “Even in India, you don’t see three spinners playing in a T20 or a one-day game. Tactically, India has been brilliant throughout this tour. Even in the last ODI, when they came in to bat after rain, they thought (more) rain would come, and they played like that.”
He signed off by saying, “Today also, tactically playing three spinners. Rohit Sharma made sure the spinners bowled at different times. We saw Bishnoi bowling four overs together at the death. Ashwin and Jadeja bowled in the first six overs. Usually, we see Ashwin bowling with the new ball, but not Jadeja. But we saw Jadeja bowl because of two right-handed match-ups. Rohit was on top of his game.”
