IND vs SL: Main Concern Is Ravi Ashwin's Fitness, His Absence Could Be A Big Factor - Pragyan Ojha
Former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha believes that Indian premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is very much irreplaceable and India will find it tough if he is unable to clear his fitness Test.
Prior to the start of the series, Ashwin’s place in the side was subject to fitness tests. Although he recently started bowling, it is unknown whether he is completely fit. Even Axar Patel is missing due to an injury and India lacks an attacking spinner.
“The bowling unit is usually a pretty set pattern. But the question on Ashwin’s fitness remains. If you see the squad, I think Bumrah will be playing, I think Siraj can also get a chance. My main concern is regarding Ashwin’s fitness.”
“When you play in India, the way Ashwin has bowled here, his absence could prove to be a big factor. If he is fit, then well and good but if he is not, who will Team India play instead of him? That is something to think about,” Ojha told Cricbuzz.
According to Parthiv Patel, the batting department will be interesting to observe since Pujara and Rahane are not in the squad for the Lanka series. India does have a few options to try in home conditions.
“Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are not there in the squad, that was on expected lines. But, I think we will see two out of Gill, Vihari, and Iyer featuring in the playing XI. I see Vihari and Iyer making the cut into the playing XI,” Parthiv mentioned.
India’s Test squad for SL series:
Rohit Sharma (c), Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Panchal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, KS Bharat, Ravichandran Ashwin (subject to fitness), Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Saurabh Kumar.
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