Border Gavaskar Trophy: India counts on Ashwin in Adelaide Test

As India prepared for the second Test in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, two changes in the team were anticipated. However, when the day finally arrived after a long break of ten days, the team staged a surprising move. Washington Sundar, an impressive performer for the team in the Perth Test, made way for seasoned spinner Ravi Ashwin in the Playing XI. The move was unprecedented, as India had not played Ashwin in the warm-up match at the Manuka Oval.

Why has India selected Ashwin over Washington for the Adelaide Test?

The pink-ball hill is a steep climb for India at the Adelaide Oval. Thus, the visitors are playing against all odds to avoid a replay of the 2020 day-night Test. While the BGT match is remembered for all the wrong reasons, one of the Indian picks registered a notable performance with the pink cherry. This time around, with Rohit Sharma back at his captaincy post, India has rested its faith in the experience of Ravi Ashwin to counter the threat posed by the Kangaroos. Ashwin replaced the in-form Washington Sundar for the second Test in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Ashwin played a crucial role at Adelaide when India last toured the Kangaroo's den for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The highest wicket-taker in the longest format among active players, Ashwin scalped four wickets with the brightly shining ball in the first innings. However, as India recorded their lowest Test total, being bundled out for just 36 in the second innings, Ashwin's performance flew under the radar. As it turns out, while underrated, his acquaintance with the different-colored ball did not go unnoticed by the management.

As India prepared a foolproof plan to trample Australia at Adelaide this time, Ashwin walked into their combination. While Sundar boasts the ability to add depth to the batting order, the visitors value Ashwin's experience more in the day-night match. Moreover, with the return of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, alongside Nitish Reddy's solid batting display in Perth, there are fewer concerns over the batting. Consequently, the team feels they can afford to leave out Washington Sundar’s batting for this particular match.

On the bowling front, Ashwin has been working hard in the nets despite the lack of action anticipated during the five-match series down under. Notably, in a particular session, he bowled an impressive delivery to Reddy that drifted sharply, drawing him forward before veering away to take the edge. Ashwin has been impressive in Adelaide, claiming 16 wickets in three matches at an economy rate of 2.64. During the 2020 Test, he dismissed Steve Smith for just 1, Travis Head for 7, and Cameron Green for 11. Smith was undone by a brilliant drift, edging a poke to slip, while Head’s leading edge off Ashwin’s ball ended in a simple return catch.