IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma‘s Indian Cricket workforce went with a four-one tempo and spin possibility within the remaining of the World Test Championship towards Australia. With The Oval pitch lined with grass and sky being overcast, the Indian captain opted to go away one among their essential spin weapons – Ravi Ashwin out of the workforce and went with Ravindra Jadeja because the lone spin all-rounder. Ashwin, who has been a gun bowler for India, was backed by many to play within the remaining together with Jadeja.
However, leaving him out has stunned former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar and former Australian captain Ricky Ponting. Speaking on the exclusion of the off-spinner, Ponting highlighted that India will miss Ashwin within the check, particularly towards a heavy left-handed Australian batting order. “Now that they’ve won the toss and bowled, India want to do some damage with this new ball. Because as this game goes on, I think it will turn and they would’ve wanted Ashwin to spin this ball away from the Australian left-handers, and he’s not there,” Ponting mentioned to Channel Seven.
Meanwhile, Manjrekar was left baffled on the choice name. “I am a little surprised that Ashwin hasn’t been picked considering the amount of left-handers as well in the opposition. Ashwin for many reasons would have been a good selection, plus adds a bit of batting depth as well. And that Ashwin that we saw against New Zealand in that World Test Championship final and the Ashwin that we see today, there is a marked change in the way he bowls and this Ashwin you would think would have done well in these conditions,” Manjrekar mentioned as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
