Former Australia captain Ian Chappell stated that India need to fit in Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing XI, Chappell feels Ashwin is a teriffic bowler and he can deliver in all conditions. He also highlighted his performance in Border-Gavaskar trophy 2020-21 in Australia earlier this year.
“India’s best combination includes R Ashwin. He is a fine bowler under all conditions, as he proved in Australia, so India need to find a way to fit him into the XI,” wrote Chappell in his column for ESPNCricinfo on Sunday.
“In trying to find a balance between the right- and left-hand batters in the middle order at The Oval, they may have inadvertently stumbled on the solution — Ravindra Jadeja at No. 5. If Jadeja proves good enough to hold down that spot in the order, the other piece required to complete the puzzle is a seam-bowling allrounder. The ideal player would be a fully fit Hardik Pandya, but they do have a second choice in Shardul Thakur.”
Chapped pitched that Jadeja’s promotion at Number 5 has already balanced the Indian set up as the fully fit Hardik Pandya when comes will balance the Indian setup with Ashwin at Number 8.
“Tweaking the Indian middle order to accommodate the skills of Ashwin should be a priority for the selectors. It’s a scary thought for the other Test sides that Virat Kohli’s highly successful team can be improved.”
