India’s decision to drop premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for the World Test Championship final 2023 against Australia hasn’t gone down well with many. Ashwin, who is the No 1 bowler in Test cricket and India’s leading wicket-taker in the 2021-23 WTC cycle, was dropped as the Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket decided to go with Ravindra Jadeja as their prime spinner in the game.
Yes, the team management had to choose one spinner in order to incorporate four seamers in the line-up and Ashwin faced the axe.
Ravichandran Ashwin Was Dropped From The Playing XI
The Indian cricket team missed the presence of Ashwin dearly on the cricket field during the majority of Day 1 play, as none of the four pacers that team India fielded for the final were able to keep Steve Smith and Travis Head under check. Both Head and Smith scored runs for fun all around the ground.
Steve Smith (95*) and Travis Head (146*) dominated the proceedings on Day 1 of the WTC Final against India helping Australia post 327/3 at stumps. The duo revived Australia 76/3 and stitched an unbroken 251-run fourth wicket stand to put their side on top.
While the off-spinners absence remains one of the biggest talking points of the ongoing summit clash, on the other hand, there was also debate over Rohit’s ‘bowl-first’ decision after winning the toss and Hayden said the Indian captain may have ‘missed a trick’.
Wasim Jaffer’s Tweet Has Gone Viral
Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer took to his social media and expressed his disappointment with the performance of the Indian cricket team where the final session went wicketless for 147 runs. He wrote:
“Partnerships are bound to happen but you still have to restrict the scoring by bowling tight lines. A wicketless session doesn’t hurt as much when it’s gone for 90-100 runs and not 147 which Ind gave in the final session yesterday. Goes without saying Ashwin was missed. #WTCFinal”
Check out the Tweet:
Partnerships are bound to happen but you still have to restrict the scoring by bowling tight lines. A wicketless session doesn’t hurt as much when it’s gone for 90-100 runs and not 147 which Ind gave in the final session yesterday. Goes without saying Ashwin was missed. #WTCFinal
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) June 8, 2023