The India Nationwide Cricket Group might need received the three-match ODI sequence opener by 17 runs in opposition to South Africa on Sunday, November 30, however the former off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was not happy with the staff mixture in Ranchi.
Ashwin has raised eyebrows over Nitish Kumar Reddy being overlooked of India’s taking part in XI within the first ODI in opposition to South Africa in Ranchi. With Hardik Pandya unavailable because of damage, many anticipated the younger all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy to fill the hole in opposition to South Africa.
Ravichandran Ashwin baffled by India’s Enjoying XI for Ranchi ODI in opposition to South Africa
Surprisingly, the Males in Blue led by KL Rahul went with three tempo and three spin choices for the primary ODI in opposition to the Proteas facet in Ranchi. Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna led the tempo assault, whereas Harshit Rana slotted in at No. 8 for the ODI sequence opener on Sunday.
Your each day dose of cricket!
Learn Additionally: Kuldeep Yadav hails Virat Kohli’s Ranchi carnage; says it felt like ‘Previous King’ is again
The left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja led the spin assault that includes the wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav and off-spinner Washington Sundar as properly. The six-bowler technique left no area for Reddy within the taking part in XI, leaving Ashwin baffled on the staff administration.
The previous Indian all-rounder has questioned India’s squad choice after Nitish Kumar Reddy was overlooked of the primary ODI in opposition to South Africa, regardless of Hardik Pandya being unavailable.
There’s something mistaken within the squad choice: Ravichandran Ashwin questions Nitish Kumar Reddy’s place
Ashwin identified that Nitish was picked for his potential to offer the steadiness Hardik often brings, and his omission from the taking part in XI raises questions concerning the staff’s choice decisions.
Ravichandran Ashwin mentioned in a video on his YouTube channel, “If we’re not capable of finding a spot for Nitish Kumar Reddy in a staff that doesn’t have Hardik Pandya, then there’s something mistaken within the squad choice, significantly. Why was he picked? Due to the truth that he can provide what Hardik can provide and may get higher over a time frame. However, if we will not discover a place for Nitish Kumar Reddy on this explicit XI, then the squad choice should be correctly reviewed.”
Notably, Reddy had made his ODI debut earlier on the Australia tour however missed the second match because of damage and was ultimately dominated out of the T20I sequence as properly.
Learn Additionally: Ravichandran Ashwin mocks Ajit Agarkar after Abhimanyu Easwaran’s heroics in SMAT 2025
Even after being launched from the Take a look at squad to play white-ball video games in opposition to South Africa ‘A’, the younger all-rounder was ignored for the primary ODI. Nonetheless, he was a part of India’s XI throughout their Guwahati Take a look at humbling.
Ravichandran Ashwin backs Ruturaj Gaikwad at No. 4 regardless of Ranchi transfer backfired
In the meantime, India had made one other baffling name to bat Ruturaj Gaikwad on the No. 4 spot regardless of Rishabh Pant and Tilak Varma being obtainable choices for the center order. Gaikwad was primarily thought of as a backup opener with Shubman Gill out.
However Gaikwad was despatched to bat at No.4 in his comeback match after a couple of 12 months, and he might rating simply eight runs off 14 balls earlier than being caught by Dewald Brevis. Regardless of this, Ashwin mentioned Gaikwad ought to get extra probabilities within the center order.
Ashwin signed off by saying, “You gave a possibility to Ruturaj, so it would not make sense to go to Tilak Varma proper now. So, give him an extended run after which resolve what your proper mixture is.”
