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'I Genuinely Wish..'- Dinesh Karthik Backs 'This' Legend To Lead India in Asian Games

Aakash Saini

image-ljk0syepKarthik with Ashwin prior to a 2018 IPL game (Twitter)

The upcoming 2023 Asian Games, set to be played in China between September and October this year, will feature cricket in the form of T20Is. Cricket's shortest format was previously featured at the multi-sporting event back in 2010 and 2014. However, in both instances, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refrained from sending an Indian team to participate.

In a major turn of events, the Indian board has agreed to send a 'Men in Blue' unit this time, albeit a second-string one courtesy of the upcoming ODI World Cup in India.

While recent reports indicate that the BCCI might appoint Shikhar Dhawan as captain, seasoned stumper Dinesh Karthik has vocally supported Ravichandran Ashwin in being picked instead.


Karthik choses Ashwin over Dhawan as Asian Games captain

As per the schedule, the back end of the 2023 Asian Games will clash with the opening stages of the much-awaited ODI World Cup in India. While BCCI has agreed to send an Indian team for the games in China, scheduling conflict between the two main tournaments has prompted the Indian board to pick an inexperienced side for the T20 event.

Shikhar Dhawan might be elected as India’s Asian Games skipper, considering he will be one of the most experienced members of the side in case he is selected.

On the other hand, Dinesh Karthik believes his Tamil Nadu and India teammate Ravi Ashwin has earned a right to lead the national team in some capacity. The cricketer-cum-commentator asserted Ashwin's importance in the Indian squad by citing his achievements and multiple match-winning and series-winning performances.

"Ashwin is arguably one of the greatest cricketers ever to have played in terms of his quality of bowling, the amount of wickets he’s picked up, the number of Man of the Series he’s got and I genuinely wish if this Asian Games, India is sending a B team, because the main team is gonna be preparing for the World Cup, and if they feel Ashwin is not part of the setup, I really hope and wish that they make him the captain. Because I think he deserves it," Karthik said. 

"I genuinely feel that he is somebody who has earned the right to be a captain of Team India for whatever achievements he’s had," he added. 

While Ashwin has not led Team India in any international format, the veteran off-spinner has spent two IPL seasons as captain of the Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab). The legendary all-rounder also regularly features as his team’s skipper in TNPL.