“I’ll probably back Ashwin” - When Gautam Gambhir batted for Indian off-spinner’s promotion to No. 4 in ODIs
Current Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir once vouched for bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin as India's No. 4 in ODIs. Gambhir's remarks came at a time when the Men in Blue was facing a major conundrum regarding the No. 4 position in the 50-over format in 2018, leading up to the 2019 ODI World Cup.
For the record, Ashwin had never batted at the position until that point in ODIs and has also not batted at No. 4 since.
While speaking to Cricbuzz in 2018, Gambhir said:
"I'll probably back Ashwin to play and Hardik to bat at six if given that responsibility. Ashwin can bat at seven or four as well. Someone batting at 4 will be an accumulator as well. He's not someone who'll give you a 60-ball or 70-ball hundred. Even if he chips in with 30 to 40 runs at run-a-ball, then you've got the firepower with Hardik, Rahul and MS Dhoni to come as the finisher as well."
Ultimately the No. 4 issue continued for India during the 2019 ODI World Cup, where they endured a disappointing semi-final exit.
"Generations of bowlers to come will say that I became a bowler because of Ashwin!" - Gautam Gambhir on Ashwin's international retirement
Cut to the present and Ravichandran Ashwin stunned the cricketing world by announcing his international retirement after the Brisbane Test of the ongoing India-Australia series.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir immediately took to his X handle to pay tribute to the retiring all-rounder. The duo played together in India's 2011 ODI World Cup title run at home. Gambhir posted on X:
"The privilege of seeing you grow from a young bowler to a legend of modern cricket is something that I wouldn’t trade for the world! I know that generations of bowlers to come will say that I became a bowler coz of Ashwin! U will be missed brother!"
Ashwin finished his career as the seventh leading Test wicket-taker with 537 scalps in 106 outings. He is India's second-highest wicket-taker overall and is only behind only Anil Kumble in Tests. The champion off-spinner also leads Indian bowlers in Test five-wicket hauls with 37.
While Ashwin will not be part of the Indian squad for the remaining two Tests in Australia, he will continue to play club cricket, including representing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025.