The India national cricket team may have won the first match of the three-match ODI series against South Africa by 17 runs on Sunday, November 30, but former off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was not happy with the team combination in Ranchi.
Ashwin has expressed his displeasure over Nitish Kumar Reddy being left out of India’s playing eleven in the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi. With Hardik Pandya unavailable due to injury, many expected young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy to fill his void against South Africa.
Ravichandran Ashwin surprised by India’s playing XI for Ranchi ODI against South Africa
Surprisingly, the KL Rahul-led Men in Blue went with three pace and three spin options for the first ODI against the Proteas in Ranchi. Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna lead the pace attack while Harshit Rana bats at number eight in the opening match of the ODI series on Sunday.
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Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja led the spin attack which also included wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and off-spinner Washington Sundar. The six-bowler strategy left no room for Reddy in the playing eleven, leading Ashwin to surprise the team management.
The former Indian all-rounder has questioned India’s team selection after Nitish Kumar Reddy was dropped from the first ODI against South Africa despite Hardik Pandya being unavailable.
There is something wrong in team selection: Ravichandran Ashwin raises questions on Nitish Kumar Reddy’s place
Ashwin pointed out that Nitish was generally selected by Hardik because of his ability to provide balance, and his exclusion from the playing eleven raises questions over the team’s selection options.
Ravichandran Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel, “If we are not able to find a place for Nitish Kumar Reddy in a team that does not have Hardik Pandya, then there is something wrong with the team selection, seriously. Why was he selected? Due to the fact that he can give what Hardik can give and can get better with time. But, if we are not able to find a place for Nitish Kumar Reddy in this particular XI, then a proper review of the team selection is done.” Should go.”
Notably, Reddy had earlier made his ODI debut on the Australia tour, but missed the second match due to injury and was eventually ruled out of the T20 series as well.
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Even after being released from the Test team to play the white-ball games against South Africa ‘A’, the young all-rounder was ignored for the first ODI. However, he was a part of India’s XI during the Guwahati Test.
Ravichandran Ashwin backs Ruturaj Gaikwad at number four despite Ranchi decision reversal
Meanwhile, India made another surprise decision by letting Ruturaj Gaikwad bat at number four despite Rishabh Pant and Tilak Verma being the available options for the middle order. Gaikwad was mainly being considered as the backup opener when Shubman Gill was out.
But in his comeback match after more than a year, Gaikwad was sent to bat at number 4, and managed just eight runs from 14 balls before being caught by Dewald Brevis. Despite this, Ashwin said that Gaikwad should get more opportunities in the middle order.
Ashwin signed off by saying, “You gave Ruturaj a chance, so there is no point going to Tilak Verma right now. So, give him a long chance and then decide what is your right combination.”
