Ravichandran Ashwin openly backstabs team India and Rohit Sharma; provides strategical advice to South Africa
Veteran India offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels that South Africa should consider playing fast bowler Ottniel Baartman instead of the left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi for the T20 World Cup 2024 final against India.
Shamsi has played four matches in this tournament so far while Baartman has played five matches. South Africa has been going with the policy of horses-for-courses as Shamsi has been used for the spin-friendly wickets and Baartman has played in wickets conducive to the seamers.
Going by the records of both the bowlers, Shamsi has been in better wicket-taking form with 11 wickets from 4 matches at an economy rate of 4.37. On the other hand, Baartman has picked up 6 wickets in 5 matches at an economy rate of 4.94. Baartman is a death overs specialist while Shamsi can provide wickets in the middle overs.
Ravichandran Ashwin advises South Africa to play Ottniel Baartman instead of Tabraiz Shamsi
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin advised South Africa to replace Tabraiz Shamsi with Ottniel Baartman for the final. According to Ashwin, Shamsi can pick up wickets but tends to leak runs as well. He feels that Indian batters will sweep him if he plays.
"(Tabraiz) Shamsi is one bowler who will go for sweeps. And India has been sweeping. Adil Rashid, (Liam) Livingstone was slightly quicker through the area. They were able to take 39 runs along with Jordan and Sam Curran. I see this as a very important match-up. And hence, I believe South Africa should seriously consider playing (Ottniel) Baartman ahead of Shamsi for the final," Ashwin reasoned in his statement.
Robin Uthappa echoes Ravichandran Ashwin's statements
Meanwhile, former India batter Robin Uthappa backed Ashwin's statement by saying that he would like to face Shamsi instead of Baartman in Barbados.
"As far as I am concerned, if Shamsi is playing, I will be damn happy, especially in Barbados. And if Baartman is playing, I will be like, we have to be a little wary. Who would I prefer among these two? Definitely, Shamsi," Uthappa opined.
Uthappa also added that India will be happy even if Shamsi picks up a wicket but they will look to attack him.
"I know that he will give runs. Even if he takes a wicket, I don't care. If he takes 40-45-50 runs, I am done. Because in India's current batting approach, even if he takes a wicket, it's not a big deal," he added.
It remains to be seen which bowler South Africa opts for in the final but currently, Tabraiz Shamsi seems to be ahead in the race because of his exploits in the semi-final game against Afghanistan, where he picked up 3-6. The decision is likely to be taken after having a look at the pitch.
The match is likely to be a thriller between the two most in-form teams of the tournament. Both the teams have been unbeaten so far, with world-class players on each side.
