Former India cricketer Farokh Engineer believes India should include Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing XI for the third test match against England at Headingley, Leeds.
In the series so far, India has gone in with the combination of four pacers and the all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. In a recent interaction, Farokh Engineer said that Ravichandran Ashwin was in the scheme of things for the second test match. The Indian off-spinner also confirmed in a video on his YouTube Channel, that he was supposed to play the Lord’s Test match.
Ravichandran Ashwin In Away matches (Test) –
Innings – 55
Wickets – 123
Avg – 31.18
Ashwin should be in Playing XI bcz England have 4 left handers in the squad and everyone knows that how good Ashwin is against left handers but Which player will be out to bring Ashwin in the XI?— Anuj.Gupta (@Anujgupta112) August 23, 2021
“The thing is Ashwin was due to play at Lord’s, from what I have heard. I am not privy to inside information about team tactics. But it rained, conditions became cloudy. When the conditions become cloudy, pacers are preferred. So we made the right decisions,” said Engineer.
Ravichandran Ashwin is a world class-bowler and also a very good batsman: Farokh Engineer
Farokh Engineer also said that during the second test match there was a time where India would have felt that they needed Ravichandran Ashwin in the team. He further asserted that India should go in with three pacers and the off-spinner for the next test match. Farokh Engineer pointed out that Ravichandra Ashwin is not only a great bowler but also a very good batsman.
“But at one time we may have been thinking that we should have played Ashwin. At Headingley, we should play three pacers and Ashwin. Because we will get more variety. Don’t forget, Ashwin is a very good all-rounder. He is a world class-bowler, but he is also a very good batsman. And he is a fighter. We need fighters like him in the team,” Farokh Engineer concluded.