Everything was looking perfect for Team India when Kedar Jadhav hit Thisara Perera for a four to take the team’s score to a daunting 321 against Sri Lanka in their second group game of the ongoing Champions Trophy. Prior to that innings, the Men in Blue had thrashed New Zealand and Bangladesh in the two warm-up games and followed it with a clinical performance in the tournament-opener against arch-rivals Pakistan. Right from openers to the bowlers, everything clicked as the Men in Blue proved their title credentials with a thumping 124-run win at Edgbaston.
But all of a sudden the positivity and the aura of invincibility has escaped. And why not, the defending champions had after all suffered a humiliating defeat against Sri Lanka and that too after posting a huge score. Before that match, Sri Lanka had only once chased a total higher than 321 in their history but chased down India’s total by losing only 3 wickets and with 8 balls to spare against a bowling lineup that is being considered by many as the best lineup of India in recent years.
Now there is no denying that the batsmen had done their work and it was up to the bowlers to defend the big total but they failed miserably. Barring the wicket of Niroshan Dickwella when the scorecard was read 11, the Indian bowlers did not take a single wicket, raising questions over the team selection. Few can argue in the favour of the bowlers by saying that the pitch was flat but one should remember that South Africa had defended 299 runs quite comfortably against Sri Lanka just 5 days ago at the same venue. And the architect of that win was their spinner, Imran Tahir, taking 4 for 27 as the Proteas bowled the island nation out for 203.
So the question that arises after considering all these factors is that- ‘Are India missing a trick by not including their spin spearhead- Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing eleven?’
The off-spinner had played a key role when India lifted the Champions Trophy four years ago in the same country. Conceding at an economy of a shade over 4, Ashwin had claimed 8 wickets in 2013 but is surprisingly warming the bench so far in the ongoing edition of the tournament.
With the conditions in England suitable for pacers, India has played three frontline pacers along with Hardik Pandya but is it really necessary?
Considering the fact that majority of the matches have been high-scoring and with a belter of a pitch being on offer, India should seriously reconsider its plan before it is too late.
Pakistan and South Africa have shown their faith in wicket-taking spinners and have been duly rewarded for it. Moreover, the fact that the Proteas struggled throughout their innings against the Pakistani spinners should be enough for the Indian think tank to bring back Ashwin in the playing eleven for the must-win game against the AB de Villiers-led side.
His form during the home season should be another factor that should prompt the team management to include him in the playing eleven.
Who should be dropped from the team to make room for the off-spinner?
After a close study, we have come to the conclusion that- either one fast bowler or Kedar Jadhav or Hardik Pandya- should make way for Ashwin in the team. Let us consider all the cases separately.
With English conditions likely to suit the Pacers, it will be wise to play with the three-pronged attack of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav. So the toss up is between Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya.
Final Take: Ashwin In, Kedar Out:
India’s top-order is looking in fine form right now. The likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni have got runs in the first two matches and in such a scenario, India can easily afford to drop a batsman to include Ashwin in the team. And with Pandya looking in fine form with the willow, Jadhav should make room for Ashwin.
Both the players come to bat during the last few overs and with hard-hitting being the demand of that situation, Pandya looks more suitable for that scenario. The 23-year old has already proved his worth with quickfire knocks against Bangladesh and Pakistan and should be trusted with the role of finishing the innings. Jadhav also looked impressive during his 13-ball 25 runs knock against Sri Lanka but recent form slightly tilts the balance in Pandya’s favour.