'I want India to play Ashwin' - Wasim Jaffer requests for Ravi Ashwin's inclusion for pink-ball Test

The upcoming second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has created questions about Team India's playing XI, with former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer asking for veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's inclusion. With India preparing to face Australia at the Adelaide Oval, Jaffer believes Ashwin could play a huge role in the day-night encounter.

The first Test in Perth saw Washington Sundar getting a green signal over Ashwin, leaving the veteran spinner watching from the sidelines. However, the conditions of the Adelaide Test might assist the spinners as the match progresses and the hosts could go with their most successful spinner. The Adelaide Oval's pitch curator, Damian Hough, has already emphasized that spin always plays a role in Adelaide.

"Spin always plays a role in Adelaide. You need to pick a frontline spinner. So, there should never be a question of do we, don’t we? It should always be," Hough said in a select media interaction organized by Cricket Australia (via News 18).

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Ashwin is more than handy with the bat: Jaffer

Ashwin has an impressive record at Adelaide, having claimed 16 wickets in three matches at an average of 30.44. More significantly, he is Team India's leading pink-ball wicket-taker, with 18 wickets to his name.

"I want India to play Ashwin. Spin always plays a part in the D/N Test, Ash has done well there before. Washi (Washington Sundar) hasn't done anything wrong but with Rohit (Sharma) & (Shubman) Gill back to bolster the batting, play your best spinner is what I think. And Ashwin is more than handy with the bat too," Jaffer opined via X, formerly known as Twitter.

The return of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill to the batting line-up will provide India with additional batting depth. The team can afford to play their most specialized spinner without compromising batting strength. Interestingly, Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has picked 63 wickets in 13 Pink-ball appearances with an average of 25.27 and has spoken about how the Adelaide track makes spinners a threat.