‘Team not looking at past records’: Ex-India selector on Ashwin, Jadeja omissions | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: The recent lapses of experienced players Ravichandran Ashwin And Ravindra Jadeja from the first test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy have sparked a broad discussion.
Former India selector Devang Gandhi has come forward to explain the reasons behind these decisions, emphasizing that team management's focus is heavily on current strategies rather than past records, considering whether playing in Australia or England.
“I have the feeling that the current form has been taken into account. The Indian team management wanted to compete with a team that has self-confidence and does not just focus on previous records,” Gandhi said in an interview with news agency PTI.

With 536 Test wickets to his name, Ashwin is considered a bona fide cricketing legend, but his immediate prospects in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy appear uncertain. His inclusion in the playing squad could only come about if one of the upcoming four pitches requires the use of two spin bowlers.
If the pitches continue to favor pace and bounce, as was the case in Perth, the 38-year-old spinner will face a big challenge to secure his place in the playing eleven. This situation could only change if the team's preferred choice, Washington Sundardelivers poor performance.

Even in such circumstances, Jadeja, who has better batting stats in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia), is likely to be preferred over the Chennai-based spinner.
“Washy bowled well against New Zealand and is a reliable lower-middle order batter. So it makes perfect sense,” said Gandhi, who was the selector from 2016-17 to 2020-21.
The bowling line-up is expected to remain unchanged Pink ball test in Perth according to the established pattern.
It is worth noting that Ashwin achieved his best bowling performance in Australia and SENA countries during the Day/Night Test in December 2021 in Adelaide where he took impressive figures of 4/55 in the only Australian innings.
However, Ashwin's recent performance in the home series against New Zealand, where he managed just nine wickets despite two matches being played on spin-friendly tracks, makes it difficult for him to secure a place in the current playing XI.
“In Australian conditions you want a restrictive option. That’s not to say Washy can’t attack, but India’s bowling game plan will revolve around that.” Jasprit BumrahMohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana. If Mohammed Shami will be included at a later date, then he too. “So a spinner's job will be to give these speed traders a break and bowl a line,” Gandhi said.
“You also have to be a consistent hitter. He did well in the last series in Brisbane and also did well in Perth in the second essay. He fought well in Canberra. He will be the first choice,” Gandhi added.
The biggest challenge for Ashwin is that he cannot secure even a five-wicket haul while playing in SENA countries.
His statistics in SENA countries showing 71 wickets in 43 completed innings. His best bowling performance is 4 for 55, taking an average of 83.7 balls (approximately 14 overs) to claim each wicket.
In comparison, Jadeja has taken 52 wickets in 35 completed innings, including a five-wicket haul (6/138) in 2014. His bowling efficiency mirrors that of Ashwin with 83.7 balls (14 overs per wicket).
Jadeja's preference in team selection is largely due to his outstanding batting performances in these nations, where he has five half-centuries and one century, an average of close to 30. In contrast, Ashwin has recorded just two half-centuries.
Their inclusion together only seems likely in Sydney, depending on Washington's fitness and space conditions. However, if the conditions favor two spinners, the team management could opt for Jadeja over Ashwin.