ICC WTC Final: Ravichandran Ashwin Throws His Weight Behind The Struggling Duo Of Ajinkya Rahane And Cheteshwar Pujara

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has brushed aside any questions about India’s two most experienced Test batsmen. The Indian team will begin their three-month expedition to England with the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand, followed by five Tests against Joe Root’s men. With Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane displaying inconsistent performances, Ravichandran Ashwin has underlined that their immense experience will serve the tourists well.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane had below-par home series against England. The former managed only 133 runs in four Tests and six innings, with a solitary half-century at 22.17. On the other hand, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane scraped through to 112 runs in four matches with a half-century at 18.67. Though the hosts won the series comprehensively, the duo’s underwhelming performances did not go unnoticed.

The lack of match practice ahead of a gruelling World Test Championship will also affect Rahane and Pujara. The pair already struggled to put compelling performances against New Zealand’s bowling attack when they faced them in Tests last time. With the Kiwis’ bowling attack consisting of Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, and Kyle Jamieson likely to enjoy the English conditions, Rahane and Pujara will be challenged.

When you are talking about those people, they have been champion performers: Ravichandran Ashwin

But Ravichandran Ashwin firmly threw his weight behind Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, stating they are highly experienced batsmen and have been champion performers. The 34-year old recalled Rahane’s hundred at the MCG against Australia, claiming it was an incredible performance.

“When things are not going right, we always feel a new commodity or a different commodity will do much better. When you are talking about people who have played in excess of 50 Test matches (Rahane) and played in excess of 75 Test matches (Pujara) and have been champion performers, we are forgetting things. We just don’t look at the champion performance that Rahane produced on the way to the greatest Test series we played in Australia. He batted beautifully and got a hundred,” Ashwin told the Indian Express.

Also Read: ICC Likely To Shift The T20 World Cup To The UAE; BCCI To Retain The Hosting Rights Regardless