“Can’t ignore..”: Sourav Ganguly slams Rohit Sharma for leaving out Ravi Ashwin from playing XI in ICC WTC final

By Saurabh Anand

It's the World test championship final and Ravi Ashwin has once again become a hot topic in Indian cricket. Team India dropped Ravichandran Ashwin for the big WTC final against Australia. After this decision, Captain Rohit Sharma along with team management are facing a lot of criticism from many experts and former legends. Australia have finished day one on 327/3 with Travis Head (146*) smashing an unbeaten century, and Steve Smith almost close to his 31st test hundred. This has put Ashwin in discussion once again, as the wicket at The Oval is drying out and the sun is shining, Ashwin would have been an impactful player. India's former captain Sourav Ganguly has also slammed team management and Rohit Sharma's choice of dropping Ashwin for the big game.

Team India went in with 4 pacers and Ravindra Jadeja in the playing eleven due to early overcast conditions during the toss. Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly in post-match talk with Starsports said, "When it's cloudy and overcast with green wickets Captains do tend to go with an extra seamer considering if they get an early wicket spinner might not be needed on Day one. But they have to look at the entire game and not just the day… I believe India should have played Ashwin in this game". Talking about Ashwin's ability He said, "Australians have 4 left-handers, Khawaja, Warner, Head, and Carey in the Top 7 and Ashwin was needed to tackle them. He would have also brought little variation in the team".

Sourav Ganguly was not happy with Ashwin's exclusion from the eleven and he also added that you can't ignore a quality spinner like him who got 474 Test wickets, or Harbhajan or Kumble on big occasions in test cricket. Indian captain Rohit Sharma at the toss said, "It's tough to leave Ashwin out, he has been a match-winner for us over the course of so many years. But you got to do things that are needed for the team". Ashwin became a hot topic of discussion in the WTC Final in 2021 against New Zealand as well when his inclusion in the team was questioned due to adverse weather and pitch conditions. India played with 2 spinners at The Ageas Bowl on overcast, damp conditions, and a bouncy wicket.

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