Lahore: While analyzing the second India-New Zealand Test in Mumbai, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has stated that he was left puzzled by R Ashwin’s repeated exclusions from Test cricket, especially during the coach Ravi Shastri and captain Virat Kohli era.
Ashwin bagged his ninth player of the series award after India beat New Zealand 1-0 in the two-match Test series, was not named in India’s playing XI earlier this year in the 5-match Test series against Joe Root’s men in England. His exclusion has come as a shock to many.
Months after that tour, ex-Pakistan captain Salman Butt was asked by a fan on his YouTube channel as to why didn’t the team play Ashwin during the Test series in England. Responding to the fan Butt said only Virat Kohli and then coach Ravi Shastri can answer that question.
“Well, what can we say? We kept saying he should have been played. I say this time and again, he is as good as anybody with the ball as a spinner. Probably even the best spinner at the moment. Why didn’t he play? Only coach Ravi Shastri and captain Virat Kohli can answer that better,” Butt responded to the fan on his youtube channel.
Impressed by Ashwin, Butt hailed the spinner and said that he keeps proving himself and is a proven match-winner for India. “Since he has come back into the team, he keeps on proving telling everyone why he is important to the team, the difference his presence makes, and what they have been missing. I was even shocked that they didn’t play him in a place like Dubai (during the T20 World Cup) and bowlers with lesser experience were given games,” concluded Butt.
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif, who has worked with Ashwin for the last two seasons at Delhi Capitals also reckoned that Ashwin is one player who deserves the team’s confidence and faith and to play every single Test match.
Taking to Twitter, Kaif wrote, “Another Man of the Series for India’s trusted match-winner. High time Ashwin becomes a regular in Test playing XI. And I mean both home and away. Spinners need to be given confidence and Ashwin has done enough to deserve that faith.”
Another Man of the Series for India's trusted match winner. High time Ashwin becomes a regular in Test playing XI. And I mean both home and away. Spinners need to be given confidence and Ashwin has done enough to deserve that faith. @ashwinravi99
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 6, 2021
In the recently concluded series against New Zealand, the off-spinner scored 70 handy runs and picked 14 wickets at an average of 11.36. He completed 300 wickets in India and surpassed veteran office Harbhajan Singh’s tally of 417 Test wickets, to become India’s third-highest wicket-taker behind Kapil Dev (434) and Anil Kumble (619).
India will next take on South Africa on their home soil and the first match is scheduled to start from December 26 at SuperSport Park, Centurion.
