"There is no debate, Ashwin must play" - Sourav Ganguly makes an emphatic statement on India's choice of spinner for 1st BGT 2024-25 Test in Perth
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly reckons that the visitors must include Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing XI for the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test in Perth. Agreeing that Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar are good with the bat, Ganguly opined that Ashwin must play not only since he is India's best spinner, but also due to the number of left-handers in the Australian team.
Ashwin, Jadeja and Sundar are the three spin bowling options in the Indian team for the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The selectors dropped Axar Patel in favor of Sundar after the latter impressed in the home series against New Zealand.
India have been backing Jadeja over Ashwin in overseas Tests in recent years, but Ganguly wants things to change in Perth. In an interview to Revsportz, he opined:
"There is no debate, Ashwin must play. Your best spinner must play. In Test cricket, play specialists. Also, against the number of left-handers in the Australian line-up, Ashwin is certain to have impact.
"Yes, there is [Ravindra] Jadeja and Washington [Sundar] and both bat well, but you must go in with your best spinner in the first Test. Play with specialist batsmen and bowlers, and that’s where Ashwin is my choice," the 52-year-old added.
Ashwin (38) has played 10 Tests in Australia and has claimed 39 wickets at an average of 42.15, with a best of 4-55. As for Jadeja, he has picked up 14 scalps in four Tests, averaging 21.78, with a best of 4-62.
"He's taught me a lot" - Nathan Lyon on Ashwin
Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon has stated that he has learnt a lot from Ashwin by closely observing footage of his bowling. Lyon also hailed the Indian cricketer and commented that he should be proud of his achievements.
"He's taught me a lot. I'm a big believer in the players that you play against are your best coaches that you eventually come across. I've watched a lot of his footage heading over to India, the way he goes about it here in Australia, see if I can pick up anything," Lyon told Fox Cricket (as quoted by Cricbuzz)
"There's so much to learn in this great game, and there's so much for me to learn off Ash. He's a world-class bowler. He's taken over 500 Test match wickets and he should be extremely proud of that," the 36-year-old added.
While Ashwin has picked up 536 wickets in 105 Tests at an average of 23.95, Lyon has 530 scalps to his name from 129 Tests, averaging 30.28.