Ravichandran Ashwin drops 'above my pay grade' bombshell on Virat Kohli's '5 Test centers' suggestion

India National Cricket Team off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin commentated on having specified venues for Test cricket. He said that it helps players while citing the examples of Australia and England, saying that it's above his pay grade to comment if it should happen in India.

The Kanpur Test between India and Bangladesh ended with the hosts winning the game by the margin of 7 wickets and also winning the series by 2-0. However, the game was marred by the rain and almost two and half days were washed out due to rain, wet outfield, and the poor drainage system.

This ignited the old debate about having specified Test centers in India. When Virat Kohli was the captain of the team, he suggested that there should be only five venues where Test cricket should be played as it helps both the hosts as well as the overseas teams. And mentioned that five venues should be maintained properly and taken care of so games don't stop.

As the second Test concluded, Ravichandran Ashwin was asked about the same to which he replied that playing at designated venues helps players. He believes that Australia doesn't play India at Canberra because they don't play where they aren't familiar with conditions. Speaking to Jio Cinema, he explained:

"Does it help a player if you have just a few Test centres? Most certainly it does. Because when we go to Australia, they play India only at five Test centres. They don't play us in Canberra. They don't play us at any of the other venues where they won't be very familiar with the conditions. So do England."

"They have select Test centres and that's where they play. Some of those are only white-ball centres. Can we do it here (in India)? That's above my pay grade. I cannot comment on that."

Ravichandran Ashwin cites the benefits that Indian cricketers attain by having so many Test centers

Ravichandran Ashwin further talked about the benefits that Indian cricketers attain by having so many Test centers. He mentioned that players from every part of the country play Test cricket. While elaborating on the same, he explained:

"Firstly, what are the benefits that Indian cricketers attain by having so many Test centres? You have got cricketers who come and play Test cricket from every nook and corner of this country.

"It is a huge country and it has triggered that sort of urgency and that sort of passion amongst cricketers to be able to come and play for this country. That is a big positive. The second of it is there are certain requisite ingredients that go into making a Test match happen.

Ravichandran Ashwin won Player of the Series for his heroics with the bat and ball in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh. He slammed a century in the first game and also picked a six-fer. He was decent with the ball as well and ended the series as leading wicket-taker.