Yuvraj Singh opens up on Mumbai Indians’ captaincy change

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh recently came forward with a shocking proposition as he questioned veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin’s place in the India white-ball squad. Ashwin has been a sporadic member of India’s white-ball squad in recent years.

He was included in the T20 World Cup 2021 and 2022 squads and was called up to the 2023 ODI World Cup squad as a last-minute replacement as well. However, the veteran has often lost his place in the final XI.

Yuvraj Singh opined that Ashwin is excellent with the ball and in the field but questioned his contribution with the bat and opined that while he should make it to the Test team, his inclusion in the ODI and T20I formats should be questioned.

“Ashwin is a great bowler, but I don’t think he deserves a place in ODIs and T20s. He is very good with the ball, but what does he bring with the bat? Or as a fielder? In the Test team, yes, he should be there. But in white-ball cricket, I don’t think he deserves a place,” Yuvraj Singh told the Times of India.

A franchise has to think long-term: Yuvraj Singh

Furthermore, Singh also gave his take on IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, replacing veteran skipper Rohit Sharma with Hardik Pandya for the upcoming season of the marquee tournament. Yuvraj opined that every franchise has to think long-term and he went through the same thing. It was recently announced that Hardik Pandya will be taking over MI’s captaincy from Rohit Sharma in the IPL 2024.

“In franchise cricket, it always gets tough as you get old. Every franchise is always looking to promote a young player on whom they have spent a lot, and that is only fair. I have faced this situation too. But then, there can’t be a replacement for experience. Rohit has huge experience and has delivered. But a franchise has to think long-term,” he said.