BCCI in selection conundrum over selection of Ravichandran Ashwin for Australia series

The chief selectors of the Indian team are facing selection conundrums ahead of the upcoming Australia series. Team India is scheduled to host the Aussie side for a limited overs series starting on September 21. The squad is expected to be announce soon and all eyes are on ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin has been the premier bowler for the Indian team in the recent past.

He has been instrumental in taking India to the top of the Test rankings. However, when it comes to the limited overs, Ashwin has had contrasting fortunes. His consistency has been a cause for concern. During the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka, Ravichandran Ashwin was not picked in the India squad. It was earlier said that he was rested.

But when Ashwin turned up for Worcestershire in County Championship at the same time, it all looked as if he was dropped from the side. Now, with the Australia series round the corner, all eyes are back on Ashwin. It will be interesting to see if Ashwin is included in the ODI squad.

As per the recent quotes in Times of India, a BCCI official noted that there is a confusion over the inclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin. If the selectors pick him, then his County stint will be cut short and that would hamper the agenda of Ashwin getting used to the English conditions.

“Ashwin has a contract of four games for Worcestershire. If he is called back after two games only, then the purpose of sending him to get a proper county exposure is lost. It’s the team management and the selectors who decided that he should be playing county cricket,” quoted the official.

Long season ahead

Team India will play as many as 23 international games in the coming home season. Hence, it will only be prudent for the selectors to have a rotational policy to keep the premier bowlers fit. Having said that, the bigger picture of 2019 WC also needs to be taken into consideration for team building.