World Test Championship 2021-23

‘Isko bahar isliye rakha taki apne doston ko khila sake’- Fans react as Ravichandran Ashwin opens up on being left out of WTC 2023 Final Playing XI

Published on June 16, 2023

Ravichandran Ashwin was left out of the Indian team’s playing XI for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. Many fans thought that Ashwin’s absence from the team had a significant role in India’s failure in the final match.

Despite being the world’s No. 1 Test bowler, R Ashwin sees it as a “stumbling block” rather than a “setback” in his career. Dropping Ashwin sparked heated debate, with even Sachin Tendulkar criticizing his absence.

I have played a part in us getting there- Ravichandran Ashwin

During an interview with the Indian Express, the off-spinner expressed a strong desire to play in the final. He voiced his displeasure at not being chosen for such an important match, stressing his want to make a contribution to the team’s championship achievement.

Ashwin said, “It’s a hard question to answer, right? Because we are standing right after the WTC Final. I would have loved to play because I have played a part in us getting there. Even in the last final I got four wickets and bowled really well.”

Much of the pre-match debate on squad selection revolved around whether India should play Ashwin or not, and after he was left out of the XI, there were a lot of comments from experts as well as on social media. When he was questioned about his overseas performances, the 36-year-old spinner showed up with his stats in SENA countries since the 2018-19 season has been excellent.

The off-spinner said, “Ever since 2018-19, my bowling overseas has been fantastic, and I have managed to win games for the team. I am looking at it as a captain or coach, and I’m just talking in hindsight, in their defence. So the last time when we were in England, it was 2-2 with a drawn Test and they would have felt 4 pacers and 1 spinner is the combination in England. That is what they might have thought going into the final. The problem is for a spinner to come into play, it must be the fourth innings. The fourth innings is a very crucial facet, and for us to be able to put that amount of runs so the spinner can come into play, it’s completely a mindset thing.”

Here’s how fans reacted to Ashwin’s comments

Yaar individual ko target Mat karo 😒
— Dhruv YouTube (@dhruv_youtube) June 15, 2023

But it's all about conditions man. It was sunny in all 5 days except of that first hour. Pitch as well got better for the Batters to play Pacers & Drier for the spinners to exploit.
Even with that had Ashwin failed, its obvious that 4th Pacer would have also produced same result
— Manan (@Manan10678533) June 15, 2023

Not playing @ashwinravi99 in such a big game defied cricketing as well as strategic logic. You play your best bowler, irrespective of conditions. And how can we ignore Aussies who had so many lefties!
— Sumit Agarwal 🇮🇳 (@sumitagarwal_IN) June 15, 2023