The team management opted for Ravindra Jadeja instead of Ashwin, along with four fast bowlers.
Team India's squad for the first Test match against West Indies came in as a massive surprise to fans after skipper Virat Kohli revealed that off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and opener Rohit Sharma were not part of the playing squad.
The team management opted for Ravindra Jadeja instead of Ashwin, along with four fast bowlers. The selection drew criticism with many suggesting that the selectors made a big blunder.
However, after the outrage, Ajinkya Rahane, who spoke to the reporters explained why the decision was taken.
“It’s difficult when you miss a player like Ashwin but team management is always thinking as to what is the best combination. They thought Jadeja was a good option on this wicket as we needed a sixth batsman, who can actually bowl. Vihari can actually bowl on this track. So that was the communication between captain and coach,” the batsman said.
“It is hard to find players like Ashwin and Rohit (Sharma) sit out but’s all for the team,” Rahane he added.
Earlier, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar also expressed his “astonishment”, as Ashwin had done exceedingly well against the Windies.
Ashwin scored 552 runs with four hundreds and has taken 60 wickets with four five-fors against in 11 Tests (home and away).
“A man with that kind of record, especially against West Indies. He doesn’t find a place in this playing XI. That is stunning. Astonishing,” Gavaskar said.
At stumps, India finished 203/6 in the rain-curtailed day. Rahane played a knock of 81 runs, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja are unbeaten on the crease and are playing at the score of 20 and 3 respectively.
For the Windies, Kemar Roach bagged three, Gabriel took two, and Chase scalped one wicket.
(With agency inputs)
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