Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar did not hold back his criticism of Team India’s decision to leave out Ravichandran Ashwin in their devastating 209-run loss against Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at the Oval, England. Tendulkar firmly believed that Ashwin’s impact transcends the need for turning tracks.
India’s performance in the WTC Final was lackluster, both with the bat and ball, as they failed to make a mark in all three departments of the game. However, one of the glaring talking points was the omission of Ravichandran Ashwin from the playing XI. The off-spinner, currently ranked number one in the ICC rankings, played a pivotal role in India’s journey to the final.
The decision to drop Ashwin received widespread criticism, given his potential to prove crucial against the number of left-handers in the Australian team and the nature of the pitch after the first day. Captain Rohit Sharma admitted that it was a tough call but one they made in the best interest of the team, considering the pitch conditions and overcast weather.
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Unfortunately, Sharma’s decision backfired as Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon, along with Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, played significant roles in the match, taking crucial wickets. With Ashwin in the lineup, India may have had the upper hand.
Sachin Tendulkar praised Australia for their brilliant performance and specifically highlighted the partnership between Steve Smith and Travis Head that tilted the game in their favor. Taking to Twitter, Tendulkar congratulated Team Australia and acknowledged India’s missed opportunity in the first innings.
While lauding Australia, Tendulkar expressed his bewilderment over the exclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin from the playing XI. He emphasized that Australia had five to six left-handers in their team and highlighted the skillful bowler’s ability to rely on air drift and surface bounce, even on tracks that do not offer much turn.
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“There were some good moments for Team India, but I fail to understand the exclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing XI, who is currently the number one Test bowler in the world. Like I had mentioned before the match, skillful spinners don’t always rely on turning tracks; they use drift in the air and bounce off the surface to disguise their variations. Not to forget, Australia had five left-handers out of their top eight batters,” Tendulkar explained.
Tendulkar’s remarks echoed the sentiments of many cricket enthusiasts who questioned the decision to leave out a talented player like Ashwin, considering the match circumstances. As fans reflect on the outcome of the WTC Final, discussions about team selection and the impact of individual players continue to fuel the cricketing world.