Former India opener Gautam Gambhir believes it is disappointing that the country did not witness Ravichandran Ashwin batting so high in the white-ball format for the Men in Blue. In the domestic circuit, Ashwin has earned a reputation as an all-rounder across all formats. However, in India, the veteran spinner primarily plays as a bowler and has changed the course of his game with his skills.
Gambhir feels that one thing India has missed is bringing Ashwin, who has played 100 Tests, 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is, up the ranks and allowing him to showcase his potential with the bat.
“It’s a bit disappointing. This country doesn’t see the potential with the bat, especially in white-ball cricket. I remember saying a long time ago that India should be batting at number five or six or maybe number one. It’s fourth. But that’s it. It’s probably one of the things this country is missing,” Gambhir said in the latest episode of Ravichandran Ashwin’s Kutti Stories.
“They saw your potential with the ball like you did in Test cricket, but they probably didn’t see the potential you had with the bat,” he added.
In first-class cricket, Ashwin has scored 5,221 runs in 156 matches at an average of 28.06. In List A, Ashwin scored 1,346 runs at a strikeout rate of 77.35.
In 19 T20I innings on the international stage, Ashwin boasts 184 runs to his name. In ODI format, he scored 707 runs in 63 innings.
Ashwin has created some memorable moments with the bat, but some of them stand out from the rest. In 2011, he hit 103 for Mumbai. West Indies scored a total of 590 runs in the first innings.
With India reduced to 331/6, Ashwin stepped out to the middle and put in a batting masterclass to bring India back into the game. With Virat Kohli at the other end, Ashwin went on to lift the bat for his first ton off 118 balls.
With the ball, Ashwin is known for his prowess in the variation technique. In India’s five-match Test series against England, he played 100 Tests and completed 500 Test wickets.
Topics mentioned in this article
