the former India Opener Aakash Chopra has questioned the inclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin in the T20 squad for the West Indies tour. The BCCI on Thursday announced the squad for the West Indies T20I as Ashwin returned to the white-ball set-up after a long time. The veteran spinner has not played a single T20I this year as he was dropped from the team after the T20I series against New Zealand.
Earlier, he was selected in the 2021 T20 WC squad which marked his return to the white-ball team after almost four years.
Read also | ‘No harm if you say Virat Kohli has been rested as a mark of his respect’
Chopra questioned Team India’s selection policy and asked why the veteran spinner was sidelined after the T20 World Cup last year and suddenly included for West Indies.
“Ravichandran Ashwin is back, it is an interesting thing. What is the long term outlook? Why was he not in the team for the last 8-10 months? Why were they completely sidelined after that? World cup and why is he back now?” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
The cricketer-turned-commentator further asked why Ashwin was not part of the team in any T20I series before the West Indies tour.
“Actually he played five matches (including three in the World Cup), he did well but after that, he didn’t get too many chances. Then you should have played him against Sri Lanka and South Africa as well. You didn’t even play him in T20Is in England, although he was in England, you could have played him,” he said.
Read also: ‘India Mein Wo Selector Paida Nahi Hua Jo Virat Ko Drop Kar Sake’
The former opener further questioned Washington Sundar’s absence and the BCCI did not provide any update on the off-spinner after his IPL injury.
“It is another huge story that there is Ravichandran Ashwin but there is no trace of Washington Sundar. There is no update on Vashi Sundar whether he is fit or injured because he was going a lot, that he bowls well, can bat too, fielding is fine, fine,” he said.
Sundar was recently signed by Lancashire County Cricket Club for the Royal London One-Day Cup.
However, Chopra said that the upcoming West Indies series will be a good opportunity for Ashwin to showcase his talent in white-ball cricket.
“It is a great opportunity for R Ashwin to be fair. Jaddu [Jadeja] Will play, Akshar has also been kept in the team with him, Ravi Bishnoi is also in this team. There will be turning pitches, so there will be more use of spin. You will play him for sure,” he said.
Get all the latest updates cricket news, cricket pictures, cricket videos And cricket score Here