Former Indian spinner and commentator Ravi Ashwin has expressed his happiness over the selection of the Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Saransh Jain in the Indian Test squad for the forthcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, ‘Ash Ki Baat’, Ashwin is hopeful of Saransh getting a chance in the playing XI. However, he reckoned that Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar are frontline spin bowling options at the moment.
“I am very happy for him. I have seen him. I think very highly of him. He bowls wide off the crease. He attacks. He is a different type of off-spinner. His job is to take wickets. He has done a very commendable job. I hope he gets a chance. Manav will play. Jadeja and Kuldeep will play, so he might have to sit out too. But I really hope because he has it in him to perform,” Ashwin said on ‘Ash ki Baat’.
Furthermore, Ashwin asserted that if he were the Indian head coach, he would define a proper role for Washington Sundar. He went on to add that Sundar should bat in the top six. However, Sundar has been ruled out of the first Test due to an injury.
“Sundar’s performance has been good. But again, in Test cricket, I want to ask Sundar’s role definition. He is a very good batter, I agree. More than a handy spinner. But India has to decide and communicate to Sundar what his first role is. Is he a top six batter or is he one of my top 4 bowlers? He is a match-winning bowler. He has to bat in the top six. If I am there, I am going to tell him to bat in the top six. It is important to define his role. If India loses, the question will come whether he is a batter or a bowler. He gets criticised, but I would question how he has been used,” he added.
India will take on Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match series at the Galle International Stadium in Galle, starting on Saturday, August 15.
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