Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar hopes for Ravichandran Ashwin’s return to India’s World Cup playing XI against Bangladesh after Ashwin’s absence since the tournament opener.
In anticipation of India’s next World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his desire to see Ravichandran Ashwin back in action. India, being unbeaten with three consecutive wins against Australia, Afghanistan, and arch-rivals Pakistan, aims to continue their winning streak at Pune’s MCA Stadium.
Gavaskar suggests that there’s a potential scenario where Ashwin could replace Shardul Thakur in the lineup. Ashwin, a seasoned off-spinner, hasn’t played since the World Cup’s opening game in Chennai against Australia, where he secured the wicket of Cameron Green.
“There could be a possibility of that happening (Ashwin playing against Bangladesh). If Shardul Thakur gets a breather, Ashwin could come in, keeping in mind the left-handers in the Bangladesh team. With Ashwin, it’s not just that he bowls only to left-handers, he is a top bowler, he bowls well to right-handers as well. He is a great bowler. He can operate on pitches that don’t generally assist the spinners. I think he is raring to be given an opportunity,” Gavaskar said when speaking to India Today.
“The way the Indian team has been playing, the way the Indian team has been showing resilience. More than anything else, I think the initiative and the fearlessness that the Indian team has been showing. That’s been so good to see. That is something that Bangladesh will have to counter,” he added.
India is unlikely to make changes to its playing XI for the match against Bangladesh. The bowling coach, Paras Mhambrey, emphasized that the team’s decision to bench players like Shami, Suryakumar, and Ravichandran Ashwin is based on the best interests of the side. He stated that maintaining their current momentum is a priority, and there is no discussion of rotation at this point.
Mhambrey also acknowledged the challenge of not including a quality fast bowler like Shami in the World Cup matches so far. The team management has communicated clearly with Shami about their decisions. Mhambrey explained that when they select the squad, their message is straightforward: they pick the team they believe is best suited for the specific match conditions. Despite tough choices, they remain committed to their selections and strategies.
Last Updated on October 19, 2023
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