Ashwin, who was out of favor for a while, was recalled to the Indian T20I side for the recently concluded series against the West Indies. The off-spinner has also been named as one of the four spinners in the Men in Blue’s 15-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2022.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra reflected on the spinners fighting for a place in India’s World Cup squad. Regarding Ashwin, he said:
Chopra pointed out that Ashwin has stood out in the few games he has played for India since the last T20 World Cup. The cricketer-turned-commentator elaborated:
Chopra, however, highlighted that while the Rajasthan Royals spinner was economical in IPL 2022, he was not penetrative enough, observing:
Ashwin formed an excellent partnership with Yuzvendra Chahal for the Royals in this year’s IPL. While the lanky off-spinner was content to keep the runs in check, the wily leg-spinner went for wickets from the other end.
“If you are giving him a defensive role, he will do it to perfection” - Aakash Chopra on Ravichandran Ashwin
Chopra concluded by stating that Ashwin’s utility is dependent on the role he is expected to perform. The 44-year-old explained:
Ravichandran Ashwin has picked up five wickets in as many T20Is he has played in Australia. However, those numbers might not hold much relevance as his last shortest-format game Down Under came way back in January 2016.
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