ICC T20 World Cup 2022: Ravichandran Ashwin's Form Ahead Of T20 World Cup Is A Positive Sign For India - Kamran Akmal

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has mentioned the chances of Ravichandran Ashwin in making it through India’s T20 World Cup squad. Ashwin was part of India’s squad in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup in the UAE and played the last three games of the group stage.

Ashwin returned to the team in the shortest format after a span of eight months. He was not out on 13 in the T20I against West Indies and picked a couple of dismissals, the key wickets of Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer, to finish his spell at an economy rate of 5.5. 

Ravichandran Ashwin is a proven campaigner: Kamran Akmal

Ashwin got the better of Pooran in the second T20I where he finished 1/32 but went wicketless in the third T20I match. With 64 scalps in 54 matches, Ashwin is India’s fourth highest wicket-taker in T20 Internationals.

Akmal believes Ashwin’s current form and experience will benefit India in the T20 World Cup in Australia later in the year.

“Ravichandran Ashwin is a proven campaigner and his form ahead of the T20 World Cup is a positive sign for Indian cricket. He impressed once again with his variations,” said Akmal in a video on his YouTube channel. 

“He has a lot of experience playing T20 cricket and is a matchwinner. It adds to the confidence of the team when you have someone like Ravichandran Ashwin to bowl in the middle overs,” he added. 

Don’t see Ravichandran Ashwin playing the T20 World Cup: Parthiv Patel

Former Indian player Parthiv Patel, however, had a contrary stand to Akmal on Ashwin playing in the T20 World Cup. Patel is of the opinion that wrist spinners like Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will pip the Tamil Nadu player.

“I don’t see Ashwin playing the T20 World Cup, to be honest. I would want variety in Kuldeep Yadav, Bishnoi and (Yuzvendra) Chahal. Wrist spinners give that attacking option in between. Ashwin doesn’t give you that,” Parthiv told Cricbuzz. 

India will play the fourth T20I match against West Indies on August 6 at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium, Lauderhill in Florida.

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