Despite being the top-ranked Test bowler in the world, Ravichandran Ashwin was not selected to be part of India’s Playing XI for the ICC World Test Championship Final in 2023. Sunil Gavaskar, a renowned Indian cricketer, has criticized the decision, stating that Ashwin’s treatment is baffling and unprecedented.
Gavaskar’s Critique
Gavaskar has questioned the exclusion of Ashwin and compared it to the treatment of other top-class Indian cricketers in history. He emphasized that no other player of Ashwin’s caliber has been subjected to such perplexing decisions. Gavaskar shared his views in a column for Mid-Day, expressing his disbelief at the exclusion.
Unexplained Decision
The omission of Ashwin from the Playing XI has raised eyebrows, with cricketing greats like Sachin Tendulkar also expressing their bewilderment. Gavaskar went further to highlight the unprecedented nature of Ashwin’s treatment, stating that a top-ranked batsman would not have been left out based on past performances on different pitch conditions.
Missed Opportunities
Gavaskar pointed out that Ashwin’s exclusion has potentially hindered his career, as he could have already played over 100 Test matches if not for such decisions. Ashwin’s absence in the ICC WTC Final led to India conceding 469 runs in the first innings. The team relied solely on Ravindra Jadeja as their spin-bowling option, who managed to take crucial wickets but couldn’t prevent Australia from posting a formidable score.
The baffling decision to exclude Ravichandran Ashwin, despite his top-ranked status as a Test bowler, has drawn criticism from Sunil Gavaskar and other cricketing personalities. The implications of this decision were evident in India’s performance in the ICC WTC Final. The treatment of Ashwin has been regarded as unprecedented and has raised questions about the decision-making process within the Indian team management.
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