‘Ashwin Was Snubbed Due To Spin Unfavourable Conditions’, Says India’s Bowling Coach Paras Mhambrey

The World Test Championship final is under process at the Oval between India and Australia. Indian team has excluded the champion all-rounder Ravi Ashwin, leaving a broad shocking place of commentary among fans. Excluding the star spinner from the WTC final, who holds a rich record was indeed a questionable decision. However, The bowling coach of the Indian team, Paras Mhambrey has clarified the decision. 

Also Read: Australia Amassed Huge Total in First Innings of WTC Final

The decision to Not Play Ashwin in WTC Final

Mhambrey stated that not including Ashwin in the WTC final was purely based on the conditions. He exemplified the past performance of the Indian team when an extra pacer helped immensely to win the game. He said we started the final with the same thought process and included an extra pace bowler.

The weather at the Oval has been cold for the past three days. It was indeed a difficult decision for us to drop a champion like him but the decision was taken considering the weather conditions. An extra seamer is likely to add more, said Mhambrey. 

However, despite him marking the conditions favourable for fast bowling, the Australian batter put on the mammoth score of 327 on Stumps Day 1. After the early fall of 3 wickets, Smith and Travis Head stood and took responsibility. Both the batsmen gradually moved their innings and finished day 1 at a score of 327. 

Travis Head hit the century and is gradually heading to 150 whereas Steven Smith also reached the milestone of the 31st test century in the WTC final. Smith secured a crunching hundred on Day 2 before Lunch.   

The Indian bowlers looked ineffective after an early fall down of 3 wickets. Shami, Siraj and Thakur have contributed one wicket each. The Indian team would definitely be missing the star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. 

Ashwin holds a brilliant record in red-ball cricket and emerged as one of India’s great all-rounders. The decision to drop him is seemingly affecting the Indian team’s bowling line-up. Ashwin worked with his spin to reinforce the teams’ bowling strength.