Ian Chappell, the legendary Australian cricketer feels the Indian selectors must prioritise finding a way to “tweak” the team’s middle order to accommodate the proven Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing XI. The former Australian captain contends that the veteran off-spinning all-rounder has proved himself as a “fine bowler in all conditions” and deserves a place in the team.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s absence from the playing XI for the fourth Test was criticized by several experts. Cricket experts and fans were calling for Ravichandran Ashwin’s inclusion in the XI after India lost the third Test by an innings and 76 runs at Headingley but he was ignored for the fourth time on the ongoing tour.
Ian Chappell: India’s Best Combination Includes Ravichandran Ashwin As India Need A Way To Fit Him Into The Playing XI
Ravichandran Ashwin’s non-selection raised a few eyebrows but the visitors managed to pull off a memorable win. Virat Kohli made the best use of Ravindra Jadeja in the 4th Test as he picked up 2 scalps each in both innings.
“India’s best combination includes R Ashwin. He is a fine bowler under all conditions, as he proved in Australia, so India need to find a way to fit him into the XI,” Ian Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.
“Tweaking the Indian middle order to accommodate the skills of Ashwin should be a priority for the selectors,” he added.
Ian Chappell said the Indian team has got “substantial depth”, something that makes them the formidable outfit that they are at the moment, adding that the thought that they can still improve is scary.
“There’s no doubt that India are a very good all-round team. They have conclusively proved it by winning consecutive series in Australia and now having had success in England, albeit Covid-affected, while they are virtually unbeatable at home. It’s a scary thought for the other Test sides that Virat Kohli’s highly successful team can be improved.”
The Indian team management preferred the left-arm spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja over Ravichandran Ashwin in the Test matches in England.
Ian Chappell: The Ideal Seam Bowling All Rounder Is Hardik Pandya And Shardul Thakur Is The 2nd Choice
The presence of Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Hardik Pandya, and Rishabh Pant together will make for a very strong lower middle order, the Australian great said.
“In trying to find a balance between the right- and left-hand batters in the middle order at The Oval, they may have inadvertently stumbled on the solution — Ravindra Jadeja at No. 5. If Jadeja proves good enough to hold down that spot in the order, the other piece required to complete the puzzle is a seam-bowling all-rounder. The ideal player would be a fully fit Hardik Pandya, but they do have a second choice in Shardul Thakur.”
“A middle-order that reads Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Pandya, and Ashwin should provide the runs expected of that section. With three fast bowlers to follow, the batting is then supported by a versatile attack. That’s the advantage of having a strong, well-balanced attack — you don’t need huge scores to chase victory.”
That places could be interchanged is another advantage India enjoys in the middle order, Ian Chappell believed.
“The other good point about that middle order is that it’s interchangeable. Skill-wise, Pant is the best batter of that lot. He’s capable of restraint when the situation demands, so he could easily handle No. 5, especially when India bat first. However, if he’s had a long stint in the field, he could slide down the order to allow Jadeja to come in at five. Pandya also has the potential to handle No. 5, and given encouragement, he could fulfill the role,” said Ian Chappell.
Ian Chappell feels “another attribute of that trio is their powerful strokeplay.”
“The ability to accelerate the scoring rate is essential in Test cricket and those three are an ideal combination to take advantage of a good start to the innings. They are also a perfect fit for situations where the team is either chasing or setting a target,” said Ian Chappell.
Shardul Thakur has made an impressive start to his international career. In the Oval Test, he scored two vital fifties and also got the wickets of Joe Root and Rory Burns on the final day.
Hardik Pandya has decent returns in Test cricket – he has scored 532 runs in 11 Tests (18 innings) at an average of 31.29 at a strike rate of 73.88 with one hundred and four fifties and also picked 17 wickets at a bowling average of 31.05. But, Hardik Pandya has not played another Test for India since Southampton, 2018 after suffering lower back injuries which saw his bowling being restricted.