After Harshit Rana, R Ashwin slams Gautam Gambhir over another selection issue: ‘Don’t see the point'

Unperturbed by Gautam Gambhir's backlash against criticism aimed towards the Indian team’s selection policy, Ravichandran Ashwin pointed out another flaw in the home team’s two-match Test series against West Indies, questioning the need to play Nitish Kumar Reddy over someone like Axar Patel.

Ashwin was among a host of former India cricketers who had questioned the Indian team management as well as selectors repeatedly backing pacer Harshit Rana, who has been part of several high-profile assignments since Gambhir took over as head coach in July last year.

Former India captain Kris Srikkanth joined the chorus, describing Rana as a “yes man”, which led to an angry reaction from Gambhir in the press conference after India’s victory over Windies in Delhi, terming the comments “shameful” and urging ex-cricketers and fans to not “target young boys”.

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In a video posted on his YouTube channel, spin legend Ashwin – who had retired from international cricket midway during the turbulent tour of Australia last winter – turned his attention towards Reddy and the need to play him as an all-rounder in sub-continental conditions.

Reddy, who had made his Test debut in Australia with Gambhir at the helm, had scored a sparkling 43 in the 43 off 54 deliveries in the second Test in Delhi but bowled just four overs across the two matches – all of them during West Indies’ first innings in the series opener in Ahmedabad, conceding 16 runs.

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Ashwin questions absence of ‘match-winner’ Axar

And given spin’s importance as a key weapon in home conditions, Ashwin felt Axar would have been better suited for the all-rounder’s role than Reddy, adding that the latter could have played as a specialist batter in order to help India bat deep.

“If this is Nitish Reddy’s role, I feel you can play a specialist batter or a bowler. You could play Axar Patel. What less has he done? He has been a match-winner. When does Nitish Reddy come into play? I am not saying you need an extra bowler; if not, then play a specialist batter only. Axar has done much better than Nitish in this role,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

“Axar Patel has the best defence against spin. So, if you’re not using him, especially when you have Siraj, Bumrah, and a second seamer, then Nitish can play for batting depth. Otherwise, I don’t see the point. Nitish is a fine batter, but there could be a bit more clarity on his role,” he added.

Gambhir, meanwhile, had backed Reddy’s selection by stating that the number of overs that he bowled across two Tests did not matter as much as the fact that he was gaining valuable experience at home, adding that the team would continue backing him for future assignments.

India play a two-Test series against South Africa at home in their next assignment in the format, and the head coach’s statement indicates that the Hyderabadi seamer will continue playing in the all-rounder’s spot.