“Good to see Ash back”: Irfan Pathan supports R Ashwin’s T20I comeback for ICC T20 World Cup 2021

Irfan Pathan supports R Ashwin’s T20I comeback: Ace Indian spinner has been recalled into the T20I squad after as many as four years.

There is no going into a safe house regarding the fact that ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s inclusion is the biggest development in India’s squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021.

For a player who hadn’t played a T20I in the last four years, Ashwin appears to have impressed the selectors on the back of his potential and perhaps record in the Indian Premier League.

Since playing his last T20I in July 2017, Ashwin has picked 39 wickets in 48 IPL matches at an average of 34.56, an economy rate of 7.67 and a strike rate of 27.03.

With all-rounder Washington Sundar not part of the squad possibly due to an injury which had earlier ruled him out of the ongoing tour of England and the imminent second phase of IPL 2021, the selection committee opted to return to Ashwin. Been warming the bench in England right now, it will be interesting to see how the team management manages the 34-year old player.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan took to social media platform Twitter to praise the selectors’ decision of including Ashwin for the world event claiming his experience to be “invaluable”. Furthermore, Pathan also expressed the need for another wrist-spinner in the 15-member squad.

It is worth mentioning that Ashwin is a part of a five-member spin-bowling unit which also comprises of Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul Chahar, Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy. In addition to Sundar, regular spinners namely Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav are also not part of the squad.

Irfan Pathan supports R Ashwin’s T20I comeback for ICC T20 World Cup 2021

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