Why didn’t Ashwin get a chance in the WTC final?
WTC Final: On the first day of the World Test Championship Final (WTC Final 2023) at The Oval on Wednesday, the Australia (IND vs AUS) team strengthened its position with the brilliant batting of Smith and Head. After the first session, the Indian bowlers did not appear in the lead at all and the Kangaroos took advantage of this to score 327 runs for the loss of three wickets on the first day. The fans have started venting their anger regarding the selection of the Indian team. Fans are missing veteran spinner Ravi Ashwin
Read more: WTC Final 2023: Lack of Ashwin tormented on the first day, Gavaskar raised questions
Spinner Ravi Ashwin missed in WTC Final
Now the fans have started venting their anger regarding the selection of the Indian team. Fans are missing veteran spinner Ravi Ashwin. Meanwhile, at the end of the first day’s play, India’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey defended the decision taken by the team management and said that the selection was made considering the circumstances.
Paras Mhambre – We took the decision considering the circumstances
Paras Mhambrey said in the post-match press conference, “It is always a very difficult decision to drop a champion bowler like him (Ashwin). Looking at the conditions in the morning, we thought an extra fast bowler would be beneficial. It has worked for us in the past as well. The fast bowlers have done well for us here. You can always look back and say that an extra spinner. They would have been beneficial, but we took the decision considering the circumstances.
Read more: England Cricket: Ben Stokes and Knight projected side-by-side on Tower Bridge
India can still make a comeback against Australia
An optimistic Mhambrey also conceded that India could still bounce back against Australia and that with “freshness in the wicket” they could do something.
“Definitely we have a chance to make a comeback as there is still a seam. We can do something with the conditions and freshness in the wicket in the first hour of tomorrow morning.”
On the first day, Head and Smith put on an unbroken 251-run partnership for the fourth wicket, which saw Australia post 327/3 at stumps on the first day. India would like to break this partnership early on the second day.