'Ashwin Doesn't Deserve A Place In ODIs & T20Is' - Yuvraj Singh

image-lrdgcf9nRavichandran Ashwin [X.com]

Yuvraj Singh doesn't believe it's a case of selectors handing premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin a raw deal in deeming him out of reckoning in limited-overs cricket for India. 

The former India white-ball giant stated Ashwin "doesn't deserve a place" in ODIs and T20Is, even as he remains a reputed stalwart and a legend of the modern era in Test match cricket.

Ashwin, whose first sacking from India's white-ball outfit back in mid-2017 was taken for a final decision on his fate in the two shorter formats, has been given an unexpected backdoor entry on four different occasions without any long-term planning from the selectors.


Yuvraj On Ashwin's ODI, T20I Prospects 

The decision-makers curiously brought him back in One-Day side in early 2022 either side of twin T20I comebacks for the alternate editions of the T20 World Cup. Then he was given a shocking  comeback to the ODI side again ahead of the 2023 World Cup but the 37-year-old was dropped after just one outing in the tournament with the focus shifting to younger spin options. 

"Ashwin is a great bowler, but I don’t think he deserves a place in the 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, yes, he should be there. But in white ball cricket, I don’t think he deserves a place," Yuvraj told Times of India during an interview. 

Yuvraj disagreed with the idea that his former India teammate is being treated unfairly by being dropped from the white-ball set-up as the team management and selectors seemed to have finally made up their minds to invest in younger spin options.

Ashwin has played 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is for India, with 156 and 72 wickets in the two formats, respectively. He was part of India's 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy triumphant teams.