Not Kuldeep Or Chahal: Ex-India Spinner Reveals Reason Behind Ravichandran Ashwin Not Being A Regular In ODI Team

Ravichandran Ashwin‘s contrasting fortunes in Tests and ODIs have surprised many over the years. The star off-spinner is an integral part of the Indian Test team and is currently the world’s number-one bowler in red-ball cricket.

However, his ODI career is completely off the track at the moment although he has been given a lifeline once again. Ravichandran Ashwin lost his place in the Indian ODI team in 2017 and has played only two ODIs since then. He did not play a single ODI for Team India from 2018 to 2021 and finally played a couple of games in January 2022 during the tour of South Africa.

In those two games, he managed to pick up a solitary wicket and was dropped once again. The spinner, however, has been given another opportunity to get his ODI career back on track. He was recently named in India’s squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia at home. With Axar Patel sidelined with an injury, Ravichandran Ashwin is now in contention for the World Cup too.

Ex-spinner explains Ravichandran Ashwin’s ODI career:

While Ravichandran Ashwin’s ODI career has baffled many, former India spinner Amit Mishra has explained the reason behind the same. Many believed that the rise of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal was the main reason behind Tamil Nadu losing his place in the ODI team. However, Amit Mishra has a different opinion.

The former India spinner, who himself struggled to cement his spot in the team for years, explained that one of the reasons behind Ravichandran Ashwin not being a regular part of India’s ODI setup is his fielding.

Speaking on JioCinema, the former spinner pointed out that the modern game needs players to be good not only with bat and ball but also as a fielder. He hailed Ravichandran Ashwin as a “quality bowler and a wicket-taker” before saying that fielding has let him down.

“Ashwin is undoubtedly a quality bowler and a wicket-taker, but remember this is not a 20-over game. It is of 50 overs. You have to bowl for 10 overs and field for 40 overs and might have to bat as well.

“No doubt he has been around for so long, has been a wicket-taker as well, but there is that matter of fielding as well and that is why a young player might be picked. The only reason he has been picked is because if a spinner gets injured, then the team needs to have a wicket-taking option, which Ashwin brings. Ashwin has got an edge as an off-spin option, as India already has two left-arm spinners and a wrist-spinner in Kuldeep Yadav,” he said.

“Indian team will be looking at how Ashwin will be bowling against Australia, and to assess if he still has the wicket-taking abilities in this format. The only reason why he is not in the team is because of his fielding and right-handed batting ability.

“Jadeja and Axar are both lefties. Washington is a young player and has shown wicket-taking abilities apart from being a batting option. Plus, he provides an advantage with his fielding, something which holds importance in ODIs,” he added.

Meanwhile, the three-match ODI series between India and Australia is scheduled to get underway on September 22 in Mohali.