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Follow UsAfter the Champions Trophy 2017, India decided to move in the direction of having wrist-spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, letting go of the duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin from limited-overs duties. While Jadeja returned to the fold within a year, in the 2018 Asia Cup as a replacement for Hardik Pandya, the case was pretty different for Ashwin, who had to wait for four years.
Ashwin eventually made it to the 2021 T20 World Cup squad and was also included in the 2023 World Cup squad. As much as control he has provided to the Indian team with his parsimonious bowling displays, Yuvraj Singh doesn’t believe that the Tamil Nadu spinner deserves a spot in the limited-overs side.
“Ashwin is a great bowler but I don’t think he deserves a place in ODIs and T20s. He is very good with the ball, but what does he bring with the bat? Or as a fielder? In the Test team, yes, he should be there. But in white-ball cricket, I don’t think he deserves a place,” Yuvraj told Times of India.
India have gone back to Rohit Sharma to lead the T20 side in the absence of Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav. Virat Kohli has also made a comeback to the side. While Yuvraj understands that there is value in experience, he added India need to bring the best out of Hardik Pandya.
“Hardik is a very important member of the team and India need him. He is injury prone and we need to give him time to recuperate and settle down. We have to get the best out of him. As for captaincy, we need to have more options. There is Suryakumar Yadav, who has been captaining India in T20Is. There is Shubman Gill, who be captain in IPL.
“In franchise cricket, it always gets tough as you get old. Every franchise is always looking to promote a young player on whom they have spent a lot, and that is only fair. I have faced this situation too. But then, there can’t be a replacement for experience. Rohit has huge experience and has delivered. But a franchise has to think long term,” the southpaw added.
