'It's not about who is good or who is bad' - Aakash Chopra on Ravi Ashwin's surprise selection for 2022 Asia Cup

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra shared his thoughts on Ravichandran Ashwin’s surprise inclusion in India’s squad for 2022 Asia Cup. He believes that the spinner’s recent numbers in T20I cricket are impressive but his role in the Indian team will be important for him. Ashwin has been in and out of the white-ball team and his inclusion in the big tournament took the fans by surprise.

On June 8, Indian management named a 15-member squad for the Asia Cup with some expected and some surprising names. Star batters Virat Kohli and KL Rahul returned to the squad after missing out on the West Indies tour due to different reasons. Jasprit Bumrah’s exclusion due to an injury was a big shock for the fans but many were even more surprised by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravi Bishnoi’s inclusion. With Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja have also been named in the squad, the Indian pace attack is looking thin. India is likely to play only two spinners, preferably Chahal-Jadeja, leaving out Ashwin and Bishnoi on the bench for a major part of the tournament.

What role do you define for Ravi Ashwin, that is very important for me: Aakash Chopra

Ashwin was also a part of the recent West Indies tour and featured in three of the five T20Is. He took three wickets at an impressive economy rate of 7.18 and looked good with the bat as well. Chopra thinks that his inclusion in the West Indies tour and the last T20 World Cup was an out-of-box decision by management.

“Ravichandran Ashwin – he was suddenly an out-of-the-box selection at the last World Cup as well. Here also just before the World Cup he went to the West Indies and is now in the Asia Cup squad, will play the World Cup again, that’s what it seems. I think it’s not about who is good or who is bad but the point is what sort of a spinner you need,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Chopra also pointed out Ashwin’s role in the starting eleven. He stated that fans can’t expect a wicket-taking role from him but he will do wonders with defensive economical spells. “If you are giving him a defensive role, he will do it to perfection. But if you are expecting wickets from him, be prepared that it might not happen. What role you define for him, that is very important for me,” he concluded.