“Difficult To Have Two Similar Players” – Virat Kohli On R Ashwin’s White-ball Comeback

Premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been in great form for India in Test match cricket. Ashwin just finished the series against England with a bagful of wickets, making 32 scalps in four games to be adjudged the ‘Man of the Series’.

Before that, Ashwin played a major role with both bat and ball in India’s historic Test series win in Australia. His performances in the previous few months have added weightage to his longstanding ambition of making a comeback in India’s limited-overs side.

Ashwin has played 111 ODIs and 46 T20Is for India and taken 150 and 52 wickets, respectively, at an economy of 4.91 and 6.97. However, the spinner has found no favours from the national selectors when it comes to the white-ball formats since 2017.

Virat Kohli rules out R Ashwin’s immediate return to the white-ball side

R Ashwin hasn’t played white-ball cricket for India since 2017.

Team India captain Virat Kohli addressed the media on Thursday (March 11) ahead of the T20I series against England and was asked whether R Ashwin can be soon seen in the blue jersey again. In response, Kohli said it is difficult to fit in Ashwin right now as they have a similar option available in Washington Sundar. Sundar has done a fine job as a spinner for India in T20Is and will be persisted with.

“Washington Sundar has been doing really well for us, and it is difficult to have two players similar. Unless Washi has a horrible season (not possible)…. you need to have some logic in the question as well. Easy to ask,” Kohli said.

Kohli glad to have Bhuvneshwar back

The T20I series against England, starting on Friday (March 12), will witness the return of pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar in India colours. Bhuvneshwar had been out from the game with a thigh muscle injury which he picked up while playing the IPL 2020 in UAE for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The experienced right-arm quick was ruled out of the tour of Australia.

Kohli, when asked about Bhuvneshwar’s comeback, said he is glad to have one of his first-choice pacemen back and hoped he will go from strength to strength.

“Glad to have him back, he is keen to contribute to many more Indian wins. Hope he can build strongly from here,” Kohli signed off.

Also Read: England Series Not A Dress Rehearsal For T20 World Cup – Rohit Sharma