Pragyan Ojha, the former India spinner expressed his concern over the fitness of Ravichandran Ashwin ahead of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka. The veteran off-spinner is part of the squad, but his selection is subject to fitness following an injury after the tour of South Africa.
Ravichandran Ashwin is an integral part of Team India’s spin attack, especially in home Tests. He recently claimed his 300th wicket at home during the home series against New Zealand. Ravichandran Ashwin made a fine comeback to white-ball cricket with nine wickets in five T20Is in the 2021 T20I World Cup and T20I series against New Zealand averaging 11.66. While he struggled in South Africa, he made a return to the ODI side after five years.
Pragyan Ojha: Question On Ravichandran Ashwin’s Fitness Remains
The unknown injury cut short Ravichandran Ashwin’s white-ball comeback which began with the 2021 T20 World Cup. Keeping him on the sidelines for a period of three weeks, the injury ruled him out of the home limited-overs series against West Indies as well. Ravichandran Ashwin reached Mohali 10 days before the 1st Test against Sri Lanka. He was recovering from a wrist and ankle injury he suffered during the South Africa ODI series.
Opining Ashwin’s replacement as an issue to be visited, Pragyan Ojha said: “The bowling unit is usually a pretty set pattern. But the question on Ashwin’s fitness remains. If you see the squad, I think Bumrah will be playing, I think Siraj can also get a chance. My main concern is regarding Ashwin’s fitness.”
The former left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha added: “When you play in India, the way Ashwin has bowled here, his absence could prove to be a big factor. If he is fit, then well and good but if he is not, who will Team India play instead of him? That is something to think about.”
The management is highly likely to play Ravindra Jadeja in the playing XI. The second spinner’s spot will be contested by the likes of Kuldeep Yadav, Jayant Yadav, and uncapped Saurabh Kumar, while even a third spinner could be chosen. Hanuma Vihari could also play the latter role to avoid a potential compromise of the batting unit.
Ravichandran Ashwin finished as the highest wicket-taker in Tests in the calendar year 2021 as the off-spinner picked 54 scalps in 9 test matches with an average of 16.64. Notable that he wasn’t picked in any of the 4 matches against England last summer.
Parthiv Patel Thinks India Will Play Hanuma Vihari And Shreyas Iyer In The Playing XI In 1st Test
Team India will be without the experienced duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane for the first time since 2012. Their prolonged run of poor form has prompted the selection committee to look for options in the middle order. According to Parthiv Patel, the No. 3 and No. 5 spots could be taken by Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer.
He said: “Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are not there in the squad, that was on expected lines. But, I think we will see two out of Gill, Vihari and Iyer featuring in the playing XI.”
Patel added: “I see Vihari and Iyer making the cut into the playing XI. Another concern is the form of Mayank Agarwal, he did not have a good series in South Africa.”
Praising the selection committee for rewarding players with a good domestic record, he said: “Just like Saurabh Kumar, other names like Priyank Panchal, who has done well in the domestic circuit, even KS Bharat as well have come up from the domestic ranks.
“The best thing about this squad is that domestic players are being rewarded for their performance in Ranji Trophy.”
KS Bharat is likely to be in the scheme of things moving forward after the team axed Wriddhiman Saha from the squad in favour of younger options. The first Test between India and Sri Lanka is scheduled to start tomorrow (March 4) at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali.