Selectors receive backing from VVS Laxman regarding 'rest' provided to Ashwin and Jadeja

Former Indian middle order batsman VVS Laxman reckons the omission of Spin Twin-Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja is nothing unusual. Laxman believes that the selection panels may have communicated with the no.2 and no. 3 bowlers in Tests regarding their plans of trying out wrist spinners namely Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Both Ashwin and Jadeja have had a dismal Champions Trophy and bilateral ODI series prior to them. Even though they had exceptional Test season and a half, the duo could not replicate their form in the whites in coloured clothing as far as wicket taking is concerned.

Ashwin and Jadeja were also rested during the ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka. Chairman of Selectors MSK Prasad invested his trust in the likes of Axar Patel, Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, looking at their plans for the ICC World Cup of 2019 to be held in the same place where the recent Champions Trophy was held. Also the fact that the think tank wanted to try out wrist spinners as opposed to finger spinning options of Ashwin and Jadeja, didn’t help their cause.

Wrist spinners over finger spinners: Laxman

The two other seasoned campaigners for India, Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh, also do not feature in the current India squad. Both Prasad and Virat Kohli have been adamant about high fitness standards in the team and as a result, the likes of Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav and KL Rahul have been given nod ahead of the southpaws.

“After the Champions Trophy, the selection committee took a policy decision. They wanted to have a look at some of the wrist spinners. I believe that Ashwin and Jadeja have been communicated to by the selectors. The selectors must have told both of them that they want to try two wrist spinners, who are talented,” commented VVS Laxman according to Mid-Day