Should India bring back R Ashwin?

Star all-rounder R Ashwin is warming the bench on the whole tour despite being a key performer. Ashwin has some great stats to his name which speak volumes about his abilities. However, since the English conditions are most suitable for seamers, an off-spinner won’t be able to make a mark. This thought has led the team management to bench R Ashwin on the whole tour. As an all-rounder, R Ashwin has picked up 400+ wickets and has stepped up as a lower-middle-order batsman whenever the situation has demanded.

In an interview with Micheal Vaughan by Harsha Bhogle,Vaughan said,”India is a strong team and I am sure they will get their mindset right.But right now,they need someone who can offer excellent figures in both the batting and bowling department.Joe Root has now reached over 500 runs and he is facing the same bowlers doing the same thing.I know we will talk about it,maybe we should talk about it right now #BringAshwinBack.” 

He jokingly said afterwards,”I am not an Indian fan,but I will start the #BringAshwinBack hashtag.” Bhogle supported Vaughan’s statement by pointing out that,”Jadeja is giving him a wicket here a wicket there.He is not giving him too much.Pant is not scoring enough runs.So you need someone to bat at No.8.But the four fast bowlers at No 8 are not that good.What happened at Lord’s(talking about Bumrah and Shami’s partnership) was a comic book stuff.It happens once in a lifetime,maybe once in a series.So,India need batting depth and also a quality spinner.So yeah,India need Ashwin back.”

India need to see if a spinner can get wickets(a specialized spinner like Ashwin).The conditions at The Oval are excellent for batting.And on a great bating surface,the team needs a pedigree bowler.

Micheal Vaughan’s Comments

India do have better chances in the next two tests since the conditions at Oval and Old Trafford are better for spinners.Vaughan,the former England captain,has also predicted scores of 350 are highly expected.Maybe a team can reach 500 too.

Vaughan also ridiculed Indian’s lower batting order.He wrote on his Facebook page,”You cannot have four rabbits from 8-11. The resistance at Lord’s lulled them into a false sense of security about their tail. In reality, they cannot have Mohammad Shami coming in at eight.”

Speaking about the team’s overall performance in the 3rd test,Vaughan opined that,”India for whatever reason did not have the determination and right mindset (…) In a five-match series, particularly with modern players, I think you have weeks where teams write off a match quickly if they go behind early. They almost treat it like a tennis match. It is as if they think ‘we will give you this set and start again next week’. That was India’s approach after day one.”