Ravichandran Ashwin’s call-up is based on the fact that the T20 World Cup will take place in UAE, but the Indian tweaker has also earned his place, writes Divy Tripathi.

“Every tunnel has light at the end of it, but only those in the tunnel who believe in the light will live to see it…”

Ravichandran Ashwin shared these words on his Twitter profile, further adding that he had written this quote many-a-times in 2017.
That year was the last time the veteran off-spinner was seen in the blue jersey of India’s limited-overs teams.

Indifferent performances, the team’s preference for wrist-spinners, and great form shown by Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal meant that the Indian limited overs setup was, for a time, bereft of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. While Jadeja was able to force his way back the very next year, Ashwin was left in the lurch.

Earlier this year, the India skipper Virat Kohli seemed miffed at a question regarding Ashwin’s possible selection in T20Is during a press conference on the eve of India’s first T20I against England. “Washington has been doing really well for us. You cannot have two players of the same discipline playing in one spot. Unless, Washi has a drastically horrible season and things go south for him…”

He went on to question the logic behind such a query, the idea being that Sundar had sealed his place in the India T20 line-up and there was no space for another off-spinner.

This was all fine till Sundar himself got injured during a warm-up game in England, and missed out on the subsequent Test series and the IPL. Just like an injury to Ashwin had a role to play in Sundar’s Test debut, now the latter’s injury opened a way for the T20I return of Ashwin.

Ashwin’s selection was explained by the chief selector Chetan Sharma as follows: “Ravichandran Ashwin has been regularly playing the IPL. We’ve seen how good he’s been. You need to have an off-spinner in a tournament like World Cup. The wickets in UAE are expected to be low and slow during the second half of IPL, hence, it is necessary to have an off-spinner. Washington Sundar has been injured, and Ashwin has been an asset for the side and that is why he’s been selected.”

While, it is clear from the above that Ashwin’s selection was based on circumstances, what also stands clear is that the selection committee recognize the value that the off-spinner brings to the side.

His numbers in this year’s IPL might not have been the best, but he had a good time with the ball in the 2020 edition, which took place in the UAE. He took 13 wickets in 15 matches, including a best performance of 3-29 against Mumbai Indians, where he dismissed Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard for ducks.

More importantly, like Sundar, Ashwin is an effective bowler during the powerplay. In fact, his overall record in the powerplay has been exemplary. According to The Analyst, writing before IPL 2021, Ravichandran Ashwin had the best record of all spinners during the powerplay in the IPL. He had 42 wickets at an economy rate of 6.4 and a lethal strike-rate of 21.7.

Given that the squad has only three fast bowlers with Hardik Pandya as the fourth option, and the way Ashwin performed in UAE last year, he can be a variation with the new ball in Virat Kohli’s armoury for this T20 World Cup.

It is evident that the selectors have chosen five spinners in the squad with the likely conditions in mind, as well as to provide the team management with enough flexibility when picking their attack for a particular game. The selectors have also clarified that Ashwin is the only off-spinner in the squad, with Varun Chakravarthy being designated as the ‘mystery bowler’.

It remains to be seen how the team management will look to handle the luxuries at their disposal. Obviously, if the wickets do get lower and slower at the end of the IPL, the side can look to play three spinners. The all-round capabilities of Jadeja and Pandya can allow someone like Ashwin, who is no mean batsman himself, to come in at number eight or nine in the batting lineup.

Referencing his quote in the above-mentioned tweet, Ashwin stated, “Quotes that we read and admire have more power when we internalise them and apply in life.”

His determination and skill has gotten him back in the team, now it is only a matter of opportunities to prove himself.