'What does he bring with the bat?' - Yuvraj Singh on Ravichandran Ashwin's future in white ball cricket

There have been a lot of Indian spinners who have given great performances for their nation and have etched their name as one of the greatest bowlers. One spinner who comes into the mix is none other than Ravichandran Ashwin.

There is no doubt that the wily off-spinner is one of the best bowlers in the longest format right now with over 490 wickets in 95 matches. He is only ten wickets away from being the second Indian bowler to get to 500 wickets after Anil Kumble. He is also currently the number-one-ranked bowler in Test matches as well. Apart from his impactful spin bowling, he has contributed with the bat as well with over 3000 runs in his Test career with five centuries to his name as well.

The white ball format, however, is where there is a big debate to include the spinner in the squad. Ashwin has not really lived up to the performances of his Test career but still has some decent numbers in the format with over 150+ wickets in ODI’s and over 70 wickets in T20I matches.

These might not be the numbers that live up to the figures of his Test career, but it still seems to be enough to debate his place in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA. Ashwin has also been part of major triumphant international victories for his nation as well in the 2013 Champions Trophy and 2011 World Cup.

Yuvraj Singh's Opinion on Ashwin

2007 T20 and 2011 ODI world champion, Yuvraj Singh also had his opinion on the selection of Ashwin and openly disclosed that he does not deserve to play in the white ball format saying, “ Ashwin is a great bowler but I don't think he deserves a place in ODIs and T20s. He is very good with the ball, but what does he bring with the bat? Or as a fielder? In the Test team”. This statement from the former 2011 World Cup man of the tournament in an interview with the Times Of India was enough to create a lot of opinions on the selection of Ashwin.

We might not know the future of Ashwin in the shorter formats, but this is after all an honest opinion given by one of the greatest former all-rounders in the game. Ashwin would still be a great addition to the squad not only for his performances but also for the knowledge and tactics he has to win games for his side. However, his place in the 50 over and 20 over format has been in and out and leaves him without the needed preparation and game time he needs to be a permanent member of the squad. We hope Ashwin can come back into the squad for the shorter formats, but he will also need the necessary preparations to play as well.