Ravi Ashwin was selected in T20 WC squad as a consolation prize for not getting a chance in Tests vs England: Sunil Gavaskar

Senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was selected in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup that will take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this year. But then, Indian cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar is not sure whether Ashwin will find a place in the Indian playing XI in the multi-nation tournament.

Terming Ashwin’s return to the Indian squad as a ‘good thing’, Gavaskar reckoned that it remains to be seen if the Tamil Nadu spinner will get a place in the playing XI. Gavaskar also added that Ashwin was chosen in the squad for the Test matches against England as well, but did not get to play even a single match in the whole tour.

“Ashwin’s return is a good thing but we’ll have to wait and see if he gets a place in the playing XI. You have selected him in the 15, that’s alright, you chose him in the squad in England as well but did not give him the chance in the XI,” said Gavaskar while speaking to Sports Tak.

Only time will tell whether Ashwin will feature in the Indian playing XI: Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar further opined that selecting Ashwin in the T20 World Cup squad was like giving him a consolation prize for not being included in the Indian playing XI during the entire Test series against the England side. The 72-year-old former Indian captain concluded by stating that only the passage of time will reveal whether Ashwin finds a spot in the Indian playing XI during the T20 World Cup.

“So, he’s perhaps just given a consolation cup to make up for the disappointment that he might have from here (in England). Will he play in the XI? Only time will tell,” concluded Sunil Gavaskar.

Ashwin is currently the third-highest wicket-taker for the Indian side in T20I cricket and has scalped 52 wickets in 46 matches at an average of 22.94 and an excellent strike rate of 19.70. The last time Ashwin played a T20I match for India was way back on 9th July 2017, against the West Indies outfit at Sabina Park.