Ex-India wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel feels that Ravichandran Ashwin will not receive a call-up from the national selectors for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
After an eight-month absence, Ashwin rejoined the Indian T20 squad for the ongoing West Indies series. The off-spinner had a good IPL 2020 campaign for Rajasthan Royals, where he was useful with the bat and economical with the ball in hand.
The 35-year-old had a good outing in the first T20I against West Indies on July 29, taking two wickets in four overs while conceding only 22 runs. Patel believes Ashwin may not make the World Cup squad. According to the former wicket-keeper, Ravi Bishnoi will start the next game against the West Indies ahead of Ashwin.
Patel went on to say that even in the T20 World Cup squad, he doesn’t see Ashwin making it and that he prefers wrist spinners like Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Kuldeep Yadav because they provide variety.
He also stated that the wrist spinners will provide an attacking option in between, which Ashwin cannot provide for the team.
“I see Bishnoi playing ahead of Ashwin in the next game (if India decide 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,”
he told Cricbuzz.
Patel also lauded Rohit Sharma’s tactics in the first match against the Windies.
“Even in India, you don’t see three spinners playing in a T20 or a one-day game. Tactically, India have 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. Today also, tactically playing three spinners.”
“He made sure the spinners bowled at different times. We saw Ravi 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,”
said Patel.
India will play the second T20I against the West Indies in Basseterre on August 1.
