Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin made a surprising comeback to India’s T20I team for the West Indies tour. He was not in India’s scheme of things in the shortest format for a while. However, the off-spinner was suddenly included in India’s T20I team. He is also part of the Asia Cup 2022 India squad and is likely to be a part of the T20 World Cup this year.
Last year, Ravichandran Ashwin played the T20 World Cup, after a gap of four years. He took six wickets in three matches, at an average of 10.50 and an economy rate of 5.25. However, the spinner soon moved down in the pecking order for India in T20Is. His comeback to the team this year has surprised many including former India cricketer Aakash Chopra.
In a video on his Youtube Channel, Aakash Chopra analyzed India’s spin bowling options for the T20 World Cup 2022. He highlighted that Ashwin has made a surprising entry to the team, just like the T20 World Cup last year. Aakash Chopra expressed,
“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.”
Since the T20 World Cup 2022, Ravichandran Ashwin took six wickets in five matches, at an average of 20 and an economy rate of 6.1. He will be playing the Asia Cup 2022 tournament for India later this month.
Ravichandran Ashwin is always economical, but the average is over 40: Aakash Chopra
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra further pointed out Ravichandran Ashwin’s Indian Premier League 2022 season stats. He expressed that the spinner has been economical, but does not have a lot of wickets under his belt. Akash added that Ravichandran Ashwin will play the defensive role perfectly for India, however, he will struggle as an attacking option.
“But the last IPL’s numbers, he plays all the matches now, there he had 12 wickets in 17 matches. He had an economy of around seven, he is always economical, but the average is over 40 and a strike rate above 33. 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,” said Aakash Chopra.
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