Ravichandran Ashwin has returned to the India squad. And he is part of the 15-member squad selected for the 2021 T20 World Cup. In yet another shocking move, the BCCI has specially appointed former captain MS Dhoni as the team mentor for this tournament.
T20 World Cup squad-
Ravichandran Ashwin has returned-
Ravichandran Ashwin has returned to India‘s white-ball setup after four years. He was named in the 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup later in the year in the UAE, the return of Ashwin signals a new dawn for him. He would also be eyeing the ODI return considering the 2023 World Cup is at home.
Ashwin said in 2019 that he was not sluggish in white-ball cricket. And that it was a “perception” that wrist spinners are better than finger spinners, especially in the limited-overs format, which kept him out of the Indian team.
Ashwin has lost 63 T20 matches for India, but in that time he has been a threat in the IPL, first for Punjab Kings and now for Delhi Capitals. He would make a “game-breaking performance” if given the opportunity.
Dhoni- first-time team mentor-
Dhoni retired from international cricket last August. He was appointed to “provide support and direction” to the Indian team management under head coach Ravi Shastri. So said BCCI secretary Jay Shah. Dhoni will be seen as a team mentor for the first time.
YZ Chahal is not named in the five-spinner-
Standby Players As Injury Or Covid-19 Replacements-
The core group of 15 consists of six specialist batsmen. Three all-rounders, three specialist spinners, and three specialist fast bowlers. The selection panel, led by former India pacer Chetan Sharma. Also named the trio of Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Chahar, and Shardul Thakur. As standby players, who would serve as injury or Covid-19 replacements.
