India vs West Indies 2019: Twitter Slam Indian Team Management For Not Including Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin In Playing XI

Team India was always going to face some dilemma in selecting the playing eleven for the ongoing first Test against West Indies in Antigua. Keeping up with the recent trend in overseas Tests, India were more than likely to play one spinner. The toss up was between the experienced spin spearhead Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja or Kuldeep Yadav.

There was also a toss up between Rohit Sharma and Hanuma Vihari. India eventually went for Jadejaand Hanuma, leaving many baffled with their decisions. The fans were not at all impressed with the selection and were quick to slam it. The reason behind the fans’ disappointment is not very surprising.

Read more: India vs West Indies 2019, First Test: Toss Report

Ashwin has been one of India’s star performers in Tests in the last few years. While the off-spinner has generally struggled outside India, his axing was a tough pill to swallow for many. What bolsters Ashwin’s case more is his record against West Indies.

The off-spinner has enjoyed tremendous success against West Indies, especially in the Caribbean. In the 2016 Test series over there, Ashwin picked up 17 wickets in four matches with one game almost washed out. He had picked up a 7-for in the very first Test of that series. He had also scored two centuries to bag the Man of the Series award. Overall, he has 60 wickets and four centuries against West Indies.

Read More: Lance Klusener Joins South Africa’s Coaching Staff For India Tour

Rohit, on the other hand, has been in red-hot form in ODIs at the moment. The right-handed batsman scored five centuries in the World Cup and also scored a fifty in the warm-up game before this Test. Moreover, with Ajinkya Rahane struggling, many thought that Rohit would get a chance.

But the team-management decided to back the Test vice-captain and Kuldeep and left Ashwin and Rohit out of the side. The fans were quick to react to the news as they criticised it.

Here are some of the reactions: 

According to dada , gavaskar and sehwag rohit should play test but we have legends like shastri ji and kolly sir who know game more than them ?

— R E B E L (@GadhviLaxman) August 22, 2019

Picture Speaks For itself?#ViratKohli #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/qrReI3miVN

— Someone (@Something4510) August 22, 2019

Rohit Sharma not selected in playing eleven for first test. Clear sign of a huge rift between Kohli and Rohit. @coolfunnytshirt #WIvIND

— Shivam (@itsShivam18) August 22, 2019

Ashwin be like: #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/TC4rzbPYlu

— Patel Vinay (@vnayptl) August 22, 2019

Ashwin record against West Indies!
Is this not enough to play?!@ashwinravi99 @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/S9fWE7is3A

— Surya Forever (@SuryaForever5) August 22, 2019

Ravichandran Ashwin toyed West Indies with both bat and ball at both home and Away.

Ashwin vs West Indies
With Bat:
Matches: 11
Runs: 552
Avg: 50.18
?: 4⃣

With ball:
Wickets: 60
Avg: 21.85
S/R: 43.63
5⃣ W'Hauls: 4
Best: 7/83#WIvIND pic.twitter.com/X1U28TzGwS

— OmkarGanda ?? (@omkarganda36) August 22, 2019

This is what MSK Prasad, the chief selector, had to say after India's last Test
Cut to Antigua and Ashwin is benched #WIvIND

‘Ashwin is one of the best spinners in the world’ https://t.co/rhn9i0OvcZ

— Amol Karhadkar (@karhacter) August 22, 2019

No Saha. No Rohit. No Ashwin. No Kuldeep. No Umesh. Is this the strongest India bench for a Test in the recent times? #WIvIND

— Amol Karhadkar (@karhacter) August 22, 2019

I don't understand how @ashwinravi99 doesn't make it to the playing 11. Virat kohli probably doing the same thing to Ashwin that he did to Ajinkya Rahane. Broke Rahane's confidence, will have to wait to see what happens with Ashwin. #INDvsWI

— Yashraj (@yashraj_14) August 22, 2019

It Looks unfair to Keep Your Senior Most Players Like Rohit and Ashwin in Bench. Arey bhaiya senior player ko XI me nahiblena hai to 16 Me kyun rakhte ho???
kya Rohit aba top 6 batsmen me bhi nahi padta??@cricketaakash

— Avishek Shrestha (@RealAvi45) August 22, 2019