If You Are Expecting Wickets From Him, It Might Not Happen – Aakash Chopra On Ravichandran Ashwin's T20 World Cup Selection Chances

Cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra believes Ravichandran Ashwin might play the T20 World Cup but won’t pick enough wickets.

Ashwin returned to the team in the shortest format after a span of eight months. He was not out on 13 in the first 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.

It’s not about who is good or who is bad: Aakash Chopra on Ravichandran Ashwin 

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.

Ashwin’s selection in India’s T20 World Cup squad last year was a stunning move and so is the one to play him in the Asia Cup 2022.

“Ravichandran Ashwin – he was suddenly an out-of-the-box selection at the last World Cup as well. Here also just before the World Cup he went to the West Indies and is now in the Asia Cup squad, will play the World Cup again, that’s what it seems. I think it’s not about who is good or who is bad but the point is what sort of a spinner you need,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

“He has played five matches since the last T20 World Cup, picked up six wickets, which is not bad, more than one wicket per match. He had an average of 20 and an economy of 6.1, he has been very good, has done exceptionally well in the five matches he has played,” he added. 

Ravichandran Ashwin won’t pick wickets in T20 World Cup

Chopra said there should be clarity in Ashwin’s role if at all he plays Down Under, the former Indian player doesn’t expect the Tamil Nadu spinner among wicket-taking options.

“If you are giving him a defensive role, he will do it to perfection. But if you are expecting wickets from him, be prepared that it might not happen. What role you define for him, that is very important for me,” Chopra said.

India will first play three ODI matches against Zimbabwe next week before they take on Pakistan in their first game of the Asia Cup 2022 on August 28.

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