Ex-Indian selector questions Indian team management over Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement

Former Indian left-arm spinner and chief selector Sunil Joshi expressed his surprise over Ravichandran Ashwin retiring midway through the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25. Ashwin announced the decision at the end of the third Test in Brisbane and had only played a role in the pink ball Test in Adelaide in the series. 

Joshi claimed that he was surprised by Ashwin's decision and felt that the team management needed to answer as to why he took such an abrupt route to retiring. 

"I also felt very surprised by that because I don't know what transpired or prospered during or between the second and third Test matches. But it's again Ashwin, who has been very upfront in his decisions. So I'm not saying that it was a bad decision," Joshi said as quoted by NDTV.

"I mean, we need to respect that, because he has been a modern legend of the game and there's no doubt about it. But again, what transpired for him to do that? So obviously, we'll have to know because it was unbelievable, and the board, selection committee, and team management should answer that," he added.

Sunil Joshi on the absence of left-arm variety

Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers as he picked up 32 wickets in the series at an average of 13.06. However, the gulf between him and the other Indian bowlers was one of the main reasons why they lost the Border Gavaskar Trophy 3-1. 

Sunil Joshi believes the presence of a left-arm seamer would have given variety to the Indian bowling attack and that could have made a significant difference. 

"If a left-arm seamer would have been there, then there would have been a little bit of change in angles because most of the Australian, English or New Zealand batters, they are not very comfortable for the left-arm seamer because you're taking the ball away with a different angle," he opined.

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