Erapalli Prasanna unhappy with exclusion of R Ashwin

Former off-spinner Erapalli Prasanna was disconsolate with the non-inclusion of Ravi Ashwin in the team for the first 3 ODIs. The MSK Prasad panel has remarked that Ashwin and Jadeja have been rested but this statement is more than what meets the eye. Ashwin has had a poor season in colored clothing which has prompted the Indian selectors to look at other options keeping the 2019 World Cup in mind.

India won’t hold a psychological advantage: Prasanna

Prasanna, however, is of the opinion that the Indian team is now bereft of the psychological advantage as Ashwin could have inflicted fear in the minds of the Australians as he had a tight lid over the visiting batsmen during the Test series earlier in the year. The veteran of 49 Tests, Prasanna expected Indians to treat this series with more seriousness.

“They should have given importance to the series since it is against Australia. This is not against Zimbabwe or some other side. They should have weighed in that with all seriousness. They should have picked Ashwin and tried youngsters in the last two to three games. With eight matches (five ODIs, three T20Is), there were plenty of opportunities to rotate players,” Prasanna, who took 189 Test wickets, said.

Since the conclusion of the 2015 World Cup, Ashwin has had a poor run in ODIs. He hit his lowest ebb when he was proved ineffective during the ICC Champions Trophy in England. Prasanna brushed aside the form issue and spoke about the impact Ashwin has had on the Australians.

“That is not the point (ODI form). One way it is good (to rest). He can focus on five-day games. He is our strike bowler. Test cricket is ultimate. But India is playing against Australia and they should have picked both Ashwin and Jadeja.

“It is nothing to do with form of the bowler. It is a psychological advantage for India. The fear of the bowler (Ashwin) is far more important,” he concluded.

India investing on wrist spinners

Ever since the thrashing in the Champions Trophy, India have been looking at wrist spinning options as finger spin proved to be ineffective in England, where the next World Cup is scheduled to be held in 2019. The think tank is giving an extended run to the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, who did decently in the Sri Lankan series.

Ashwin and Jadeja are quality bowlers when they put the white fennels on. But their effectiveness in colored clothing has certainly taken a hit due to indifferent form in the last 18 months with the white ball. Kohli has hinted at having specialists for every format and hence, maybe, he wants the spin-twins to concentrate more on Tests.