Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin made his way back into India’s T20I squad for the ongoing five-match series against West Indies. He has not disappointed as he has been able to stay economical and not leak runs. He has managed to contain the run flow in the middle phase of the game, while also taking crucial wickets. Now, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has talked about how Ashwin has mastered the art of being economical in the shortest format of the game.
“Who are his competitors now? You’ve got Chahal who’s confirmed for spinner on current form. Then you’ve got Axar Patel, you’ve got Jadeja who could do a bit of bowling. Hooda bowled one over in the last game, then you’ve got Kuldeep Yadav, you’ve got Ravichandran Ashwin. I think Ashwin’s selection on this tour was an excellent one. In the last couple of years in the Indian T20 league, Ashwin has started making an impact. I like Ashwin when he’s with somebody like Chahal. So, the onus is not on Ashwin to change the tide,” Manjrekar said on SPORTS18’s daily sports news show ‘SPORTS OVER THE TOP’.
“You know, the spinner’s job in T20 cricket, in the middle phase, is to get wickets like Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj do for South Africa. That’s where Ashwin lacked a bit as a T20 spinner. He focused a lot on the economy, but when you have somebody like Chahal, or if there’s another wicket-taking wrist spinner, then Ashwin becomes a great compliment because Ashwin has mastered the art of being economical in T20 cricket. In the first T20, a couple of wickets was a great sign, but that’s what you’ll get with Ashwin, that compliment to the other main wicket-taking spinner in the team,” he added.
Manjrekar also talked about how Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal may not work as a pair in the shortest format.
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“I don’t think that combination will be ever employed by India. At least in T20 cricket where you have Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav both playing together as two spinners. Either it’ll be Axar Patel or Chahal or it’ll be Ashwin or Chahal, or if Chahal is unfit, then they might just play Kuldeep Yadav as a gamble in one of the games. I don’t see Chahal and Kuldeep getting reunited, maybe in 50 overs cricket they would,” said Manjrekar.
Ashwin has played three T20Is in the ongoing series, taking 3 wickets. He has also made useful contributions with the bat, coming lower down the order.
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