'We all know that he is a quality bowler' - Rohit Sharma lauds Ravi Ashwin's comeback in T20Is

2021 has been quite wonderful for Ravichandran Ashwin. He started the year with some fantastic performances in the Test series in Australia and then against England at home. He was expected to play in England but ended warming the benches, much to the surprise of many fans and experts. However, after that, he made a surprising comeback to the Indian T20I side. 

The Tamil Nadu off-spinner had not played in a single white-ball game for India since 2017. He was named in the squad for the T20 World Cup and ever since he has returned to the playing XI, his form with the ball has been excellent. In five matches, he picked up nine wickets. New T20I skipper Rohit Sharma has said that Ashwin is always an attacking option for the Indian team. 

While praising the veteran spinner, Rohit said, “It has been a great comeback from him. We all know that he is a quality bowler. He has proven himself with the red ball over the years and even in white-ball cricket, he doesn’t have a bad record. Now the way he has come back and bowled in the UAE and then here just shows the quality that he has.” 

He is always an attacking option for a captain: Rohit Sharma on Ravichandran Ashwin

The skipper further explained the ways in which Ashwin can be used in T20 cricket. The key reason why Ashwin was sidelined from white-ball cricket was the fact that he was not able to pick up regular wickets in the middle overs. However, since making his comeback, the experienced spinner has done exactly that, winning the praises of the captain. 

“He is always an attacking option for a captain. When you have someone like him in the squad it is always an opportunity to take wickets in the middle (overs) and we understand how important that is. That is the phase when you can put the breaks on the scoring rate and take wickets,” Rohit said and was quoted by India Today. 

Rohit further noted that along with Axar Patel, Ashwin makes up a good combination as the duo has a lot of wicket-taking ability. Ravindra Jadeja was the preferred spinner for India at the T20 World Cup but was rested as India whitewashed New Zealand 3-0 at home. He will be seen in the Test series alongside Ashwin, who is at the brink of breaking another huge record.