The off-spinner had been dropped from the Perth Test that India ended up winning comfortably. Ahead of the second Test, there was plenty of chatter about India’s changes, with skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubhman Gill expected to be back in the side. There was also speculation that India may consider playing Ashwin in the pink-ball Test, given his frequent discussions with head coach Gautam Gambhir during training sessions leading up to the second game.
The changes were confirmed at the toss ahead of the Adelaide game, with Ashwin also making a comeback into the XI.
Why was Ashwin picked for the Pink-Ball Test?
Several factors would have influenced his selection in the XI, including the overall support for spinners in day-night Tests and India’s changes to their batting line-up.
Ashwin has played four pink-ball Tests, including the one in Adelaide on the last tour. He picked up five wickets in that clash, his only day-night game away from India. While the sample size is limited, the Adelaide pink-ball Tests have generally assisted the spinners, with Australia’s lead spinner Nathan Lyon having a wonderful record at the venue.
He has taken 28 wickets in eight day-night games, averaging 23.85 with a strike rate of 58.9. Overall, the spinners average 38.57, which is against the pacers’ average of 27. But, spin does play a part, unlike in Perth, where India picked Sundar because he was the better batter over Ashwin. His height also made him more effective on a wicket that had bounce. Sundar ended with two wickets in the game, silently going about his work as the pacers wreaked havoc.
Rohit Sharma has confirmed that he will bat in the middle-order in Adelaide, making it the first time in six years that he will not open in Test cricket.
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) December 5, 2024
What do you make of the decision? pic.twitter.com/2qG24MUrLn
In Adelaide, though, India would have benefitted from Ashwin, the better off-spinner. He has been slotted at No.8 in the team sheet, with Nitish Kumar Reddy, just a Test old, making his debut in the previous game. Reddy had looked the part with the bat, top scoring with 41 in tough conditions on day one, before playing a counter-attacking 38* in the next innings alongside childhood hero Virat Kohli. India have given Reddy a promotion in Adelaide, a decision made easier with Rohit pushing himself down the order.
The India captain confirmed he would be playing “somewhere in the middle” in the second Test following KL Rahul’s brilliant knock in the first Test. He replaced Dhruv Jurel in the XI and is likely to bat at either No.5 or No.6, depending on the game situation and the match-ups. His presence adds more experience in the middle, which also provides a cushion for Reddy to play his natural game at No.7.
With the batting line-up, more specifically the middle order, now carrying more experience, and Reddy also looking solid during his twin essays at Perth, India could pick Ashwin at No.8, a spot where he usually bats. He also has a strong record against the struggling Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, and expect him to be called up whenever the two are batting.
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