Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin does not want India to face Pakistan in the final or semi-finals of this ICC T20 World Cup, although admitting that India is two continents ahead of its arch-rival in white-ball cricket.
In recent times, the India vs Pakistan contest has often been termed as a rivalry due to the one-sided dominance shown by the Indian team, especially in the shortest format of the game. The difference between India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup is now 8-1.
However, from Pakistan’s perspective, Ravichandran Ashwin’s thinking is completely different and positive. He believes that India should not face Pakistan in the knockouts again. However, his thinking may also have arisen from the idea that in such circumstances India’s knockout match would have to be shifted to Sri Lanka.
“I would take anyone else in the semi-finals or final and don’t want to see Pakistan in the knockouts” – Ravichandran Ashwin
Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin insisted that he does not want to see the defending champions face their rivals once again in the knockouts of the competition.
Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, “I hope that Pakistan does not come to the final because it is a comprehensive defeat for them. If they come to the final, then maybe Pakistan will improve their strategy a little. I do not want a contest between India and Pakistan in the final.”
However, although Ashwin himself has said that the Indian team is two continents ahead of Pakistan in white-ball competitions, he feels that a final against Pakistan is not something he would choose for the Men in Blue.
Ravichandran Ashwin said, “I would take anyone else in the semi-finals or final and don’t want to see Pakistan in the knockouts. On a given day and on a neutral stage, India is a continent or two ahead of Pakistan in white-ball cricket.”
Regarding the runs on the Premadasa pitch, Ashwin said, “I thought 175 runs is equal to 250 on this pitch.”
Like everyone else, Ashwin also claimed that a total of 175 seemed perfect on this slow Premadasa pitch. And the score looked very high due to the slow pace of the pitch, in reference to which he jokingly commented that if there had been 20 runs more, they might have had to enforce follow-on.
“Since Pakistan had loaded their team with spinners, I thought this was their best chance. The way Sam Ayub and Salman Ali Aga bowled troubled the Indian batsmen, I thought 175 was 250 on this pitch,” Ashwin said.
He further said, “I have an uncle who messaged me, ‘174 is Babar Azam’s ball.’
Ashwin also pointed out that when left-arm all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz was batting, Pakistan had already lost five or six wickets, but despite this, his lack of intent against the left-arm spinners put Pakistan on the backfoot.
Ravichandran Ashwin criticizes Babar Azam for having ‘no improvement’ against Jasprit Bumrah
Ravichandran Ashwin said that Babar Azam has not improved his ability to deal with Jasprit Bumrah. “If you look at Babar Azam’s defense against Jasprit Bumrah, he hasn’t made any changes even after losing to Pakistan a year or two ago,” Ashwin said.
He further added, “In the game in USA he was seen pushing a ball from Bumrah and getting out. It was the same in this game because he played to third man and the commentary said it was a typical Babar Azam glide. But no, if you play like that every time you will be out.”
After this he said that Pakistan is not better tactically and they do not have the resources to challenge the Indian team. He then further said that, whether it is a high-scoring game or a low-scoring one, India is far ahead of its rivals.
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