The unexplained absence of senior XI player Ravichandran Ashwin comes into focus as India captain Virat Kohli tries to find a combination. That can bring his side’s humbling campaign back on track. Which Afghanistan leads here for Wednesday’s T20 World Championships. India’s run was confused after two crushing defeats to Pakistan and New Zealand. The form they put in did not deserve a place in the semifinals, although mathematically, their hopes were alive.
Afghanistan is expected to win both of its matches against Scotland and Namibia. However, most were in the race against Pakistan before Asif Ali won the game by four-six in one. With this in mind, Mohamed Nabi and Rashid Khan want to use all their strength. And experience off T20 to insult India’s injury and prolong the nightmare that started on 24 October.
Kohli’s careful team selection can be expect in his last three games as India T20 captain.
However, it started with questions repeatedly, ignoring a player of Ashwin’s caliber. It is unheard of in the cricket world that one of the most accomplished players of the current generation has become a famous traveler. Since he last wore the national jersey in June.
According to sources, Ashwin’s entry into the whites after four years was a left-field choice and never got the India captain’s approval. However, Kohli’s decision not to consider him an option is something many in Indian cricket believe to be the “limit of perseverance”. After Varun Chakravarti’s inability to work under pressure proved the meaning of the experience.
No freak in this Indian environment can match Ashwin in terms of talent and ability.
The only thing against him was the lock of consistency that led to him being sent off four years ago. But desperate times call of desperate measures, and with Afghanistan, unaccustomed to dealing with the rotating Ashwin class, his presence can help. The opening duo of the great left Hazratullah Zazai and the fat. Glamorous Mohamed Shahzad, who lacked footwork, might have struggled to overcome Ashwin’s trick.
Let’s say Kohli again chooses not to include the Tamil Nadus Tweaker. But, in this case, the “outside voice” that the captain often referred to as “inappropriate. Along with the “inner voice” he could not ignore, became louder than non-cricket reasons.