IND vs PAK: Ravichandran Ashwin Is Peerless In Red Ball Cricket, But Has Quality Competition In T20s: Sri Lankan Spin Legend Muttiah Muralitharan Makes Big Statement

Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan feels that a bowler of the calibre of Ravichandran Ashwin struggles to make it to India’s playing XI in limited-overs matches.

The owner of 800 Test wickets and the greatest off-spinner said that Indian cricket’s white ball eco-system is so good that the country has created an unimaginable talent pool in the T20 format.

There Are Too Many Quality Options In The Indian Cricket System – Muttiah Muralitharan

“There are too many quality options in the Indian cricket system. There is very stiff competition among the top Indian spinners in white ball cricket,” Murali was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI.

Ashwin is back in the white-ball mix after being in the wilderness in shorter formats for over three years. Ashwin is vying for a place in India’s playing eleven along with Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal in the spin attack.

He Is Peerless In Red Ball Cricket – Muttiah Muralitharan

“In red-ball cricket, there isn’t much competition as Ashwin is on top. He is peerless. The moment we turn to T20, because of IPL, we get to see too many talented options as there are so many matches being played. That certainly speaks about the depth of Indian cricket.”

“So when you get an option to compare his exploits with others and the opportunities to play T20Is get shared.”

Muralitharan, one of the bowlers to have used the ‘doosra’ ball most successfully, never compromised on his strong side, which is his off-spin bowling, which allowed him to turn the ball a lot even on flat pitches.

Asked whether the off-spinners were using the carrom ball a lot in limited-overs cricket, Mularidhan said, “You can’t bowl just carrom balls. You have to mix it up. Even during our times, we used floaters with conventional off breaks. You can’t bowl the same ball again and again as batters tend to read you well. To stay on top, you need to have enough variations in your bowling.”

India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening encounter of the ICC T20 World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, on Sunday, October 23. The mother of all battles between the two teams will be renewed after last month’s Asia Cup thrillers.

Also read: IND vs PAK: “He Can Win The T20 World Cup On His Own” – Former Australian All-rounder Shane Watson Heaps Praise On Hardik Pandya