Gautam Gambhir doubts R Ashwin’s selection in the qualifier against Chennai
As the IPL 2021 has come to the end of the league stage matches, DC, CSK, RCB, and KKR have turned to be the four playoffs teams. As DC and CSK have finished on the top two slots, they will be playing Qualifier 1 on October 10, 2021. In the same light of events, former cricketer Gautam Gambhir has come up with his opinions for DC spinner Ravi Ashwin. Gambhir feels that Ashwin might not play DC’s next game against Chennai Super Kings.
DC played their last game against RCB which turned out to be an absolute thriller but Ashwin bowled only a single over from his quota. On the other hand, the new all-rounder from Gujarat Ripal Patel bowled three overs. Gambhir feels that Ashwin’s case might not be sure for Sharjah as they might like to pick Marcus Stoinis if he is available.
“I’m sure they must be considering whether to play Ashwin in Sharjah or probably go with an overseas batter and have Ripal Patel as a bowling all-rounder. Or get Stoinis if he’s available. Because if anything, they were convinced with Ashwin, this was the game to give him four overs, irrespective of what the result of the game was. So, I am not sure whether he is going to play the next game or not. He’s still a quality bowler,” said Gambhir as quoted by Sportskeeda.
By giving Ravi Ashwin just one over shows that they don’t have confidence in him, reckons Gambhir
Gambhir further added that giving one over to Ashwin meant somewhere that they are not sure of his performance and that is why not showing confidence in him. In this case, they might be going with their other options available against CSK. Whichever team wins Qualifier 1 will directly land in the finals to be played on October 15.
“Probably Ricky Ponting or Rishabh Pant might not even be convinced about his form or the way he’s bowling. By giving him just one over shows that they don’t have confidence in him. So going forward they may pick Ripal Patel or Marcus Stoinis, depending upon his fitness,” he added.
