Ashwin's WTC Exclusion Draws Reactions From Ex-Cricketers
Cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin's name has been dropped from all-important World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval
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Ashwin lost his place in Indian Playing XI to Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja is playing as the only spinner in the team
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This has been the sixth consecutive time the No. 1 ranked Test bowler in the world in 2021-2023 WTC cycle will not feature in the Indian team in a Test match in England
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Ashwin's omission left cricketers expressing their disappointment. Here are some of the reactions of cricketers and ex-cricketers
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"See it's an afterthought. And I don't believe in afterthoughts. As a captain, you take a decision before the toss and India had decided that they would go in with 4 fast bowlers"
Sourav Ganguly
Former India captain
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"Having said that, in the last couple of years they have had success in the last couple of years with 4 pacers"
Sourav Ganguly
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"They've won Test matches but if you ask me... if I was captaining - and every captain is different - Rohit and I think differently. I would find it very hard to keep a spinner out of Ashwin's quality out of the XI"
Sourav Ganguly
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The former Australia captain while commentating on air said, "Looks like India has picked a bowling line up for the first inning of the match. Surprised to see Ashwin out with the amount of left-handers Australia have"
Ricky Ponting
Former Australia captain
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"I'm a little surprised that Ashwin hasn't been picked considering the number of left-handers in the opposition"
Sanjay Manjrekar
Former India batter
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He continued, "So I hope it's a move that is completely dictated by the pitch and I hope there is movement for the seam bowlers not just for the first day but on Day 2 and 3"
Sanjay Manjrekar
Sanjay Manjrekar
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Manjrekar added, "Then it becomes a good selection. Ashwin, for many reasons, would have been a good selection; he adds a bit of batting depth as well. And that Ashwin which we say in the WTC final and the Ashwin that we've seen today"
Sanjay Manjrekar
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"There is a marked change in the way he bowls. This Ashwin you think would have done well in these conditions"
Sanjay Manjrekar
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Ravichandran Ashwin is the world's third-highest wicket-taker in WTC 2021-23 cycle after Australia's Nathan Lyon