New Delhi: Ravi Shastri, India’s former all-star and head coach, commented that if Ravichandran Ashwin had known India would play two all-round spinners in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he might’ve put off his retirement. The abrupt retirement announcement after merely one Test series and following the third Test at Gabba, Brisbane, from Ashwin left many taken aback. Despite retirement, Ashwin communicates his unwavering love for cricket, manifesting his passion through club cricket and the IPL. Echoing the narrative, India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, during the press conference, recounted how Ashwin hinted at retirement back in Perth. However, Sharma managed to sway him to stay by choosing him for the day-night Test in Adelaide.
Taking a deep look, one can deduce that Ashwin was hoping to get a nod of affirmation from Rohit about his role in the forthcoming Melbourne and Sydney Tests. But, understandably, Rohit, the Indian team captain, could not guarantee without factoring in the game conditions.
“I somehow convinced him to stay for the pink-ball Test. And then he felt that ‘If I’m not needed right now in the series, I’m better off saying goodbye to the game. Obviously, we haven’t been to Melbourne, so we don’t know what conditions we will get there,” Rohit had said.
In the Boxing Day Test match that recently took place, India made a surprising move by choosing two spin bowlers, a decision that astonished quite a few commentators. Washington Sundar, favored over alternative batsman Shubman Gill, was chosen to join the team. In the first Test in Perth, Sundar had displayed his skills as India’s leading spinner, before being substituted by Ashwin in the following day-night match. The third Test saw Ravindra Jadeja joining the forefront. A noteworthy strategy was the fourth Test at MCG when, for the first time during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the team decided to play with more than one spinning option.
Shastri is of the opinion that keeping Gill in the team lineup would have been beneficial. In his view, the squad could accommodate either Sundar or Reddy as a replacement.
“It’s a brave decision. I would have Gill. It would have been a tough choice between Reddy and Washington, but they have kept faith in them,” said Shastri in commentary. The ex-coach hinted that, had Ashwin been cognizant of India’s standing, he may not have elected to hang up his boots.
“If Ashwin knew India would play two spinners, he might not have retired,” Shastri added.
The upcoming fourth Test in Melbourne is a key turning point in the series. Both teams have managed to make their mark with a win apiece, so the stakes are high in the next match. Whoever clinches this win will secure a vital upper hand in the overall five-match series.
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