Indian team director Ravi Shastri on Tuesday indicated that R. Ashwin will play in the opening Test against South Africa, saying the off-spinner is “absolutely fine”.
Indian team director Ravi Shastri on Tuesday indicated that R. Ashwin will play in the opening Test against South Africa, saying the off-spinner is “absolutely fine”.
Ashwin, who suffered a side strain during the first ODI in Kanpur, could not participate in the last four games against the visitors. His absence hurt the hosts as they went down 2-3 against the AB de Villiers-led side.
“Ashwin is bowling magnificently. He is absolutely fine,” said Shastri.Ashwin was seen going through his practice drills in full vigour during the team’s training session at the PCA Stadium here on Tuesday.
Apart from bowling in tandem with other spinners, the 29-year-old player was also involved in a football game that the cricketers played before moving to the net session.
Ashwin, who led the bowling charts by bagging 20 wickets in three games against Sri Lanka during the last Test series, is India’s main weapon against a formidable South African batting line-up, led by skipper Hashim Amla.
While Proteas batsman Faf du Plessis had admitted of Ashwin being the main threat for the tourists, opener Dean Elgar also believes that the off-spinner is spearheading the Indian bowling attack for the moment.
Shastri though warned the visitors of concentrating too much on Ashwin and neglecting the other Indian spinners.“We have got two other spinners, who might just surprise if they focus too much on Ashwin,” Shastri said.
Calling the Wankhede pitch fiasco “history”, Shastri said home teams over the years have always got pitches prepared to suit their strengths and there is no need to “hide behind that issue”.
As India gear up to take on no. 1 Test side South Africa in the four-match series starting November 5, Shastri said that the rubber promises to produce quality cricket.
“I believe at home you should play to your strength, there is no need to hide behind that issue. It has been happening over the years and that’s what you expect in your own country. You don’t expect a pitch to turn on Day 1 when you go to South Africa or Australia. So it will be interesting to see how this pitch is,” Shastri said.
Shastri though refused to comment on the pitched battle between him and Wankhede’s curator Sudhir Naik during the final ODI. Shastri had apparently made a sarcastic comment about the pitch, while Naik said the former captain abused him and the matter was taken up by the MCA.
“The incident is history, let’s talk about now. I have spoken about that enough and there is nothing to add and not a word to subtract,” Shastri said.
