I don’t see Ravi Ashwin playing the T20 World Cup: Parthiv Patel

Ravichandran Ashwin was excellent on his return to international cricket against West Indies in the first T20I match on Friday. He scored 13* runs off ten balls to form an unbeaten 52-run partnership with Dinesh Karthik to guide India to 190/6 while batting first. Ashwin also shined with the ball by taking two big wickets of Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer and conceded just 22 runs in his four-over spell.

Ashwin was a surprise inclusion in the team as Indian skipper Rohit Sharma played with three spin options. Ravindra Jadeja and youngster Ravi Bishnoi also started the game and played a big part in India’s win. But the former Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel believes that the veteran spinner will not be part of the next game if India play with two spin bowlers. He also stated that he doesn’t see Ashwin playing in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia.

“I see Bishnoi playing ahead of Ashwin in the next game (if India decide to go with two spinners). I don’t see Ashwin playing the T20 World Cup, to be honest. I would want variety in Kuldeep Yadav, Bishnoi, and (Yuzvendra) Chahal. Wrist spinners give that attacking option in between. Ashwin doesn’t give you that,” Parthiv Patel told Cricbuzz.