Dinesh Karthik weighs in on India dropping Ravichandran Ashwin in WTC final

There has been a longstanding debate surrounding Indian cricket since the World Test Championship (WTC) final 2021-2023 final between India and Australia. It all began after the Indian management omitted star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin from their playing XI. Meanwhile, the veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik recalled the moment once again and came up with a big statement on the same.

During his commentary stint with Sky Sports in the ongoing fifth Test of Ashes 2023, Karthik was speaking about the inclusion of off-spinner Tod Murphy in the Australia playing XI. Notably, the venue of the Ashes Test, The Oval in London, is where India and Australia played the final of the WTC. “Todd Murphy coming in, we know the pitch is dry, Nathan Lyon has done well in Oval over a period of time. So, the obvious change,” said Karhik to Sky Sports.

When asked about whether India would regret Ashwin's exclusion, “I think you should let that go; but I think, yes, they do. When they look back at it, that’s one of the biggest regrets they could have,” he added later.

'It’s very tough as a cricketer' - Ravichandran Ashwin on omission

Notably, the Indian team management was in the cross-chairs of criticism from the former cricketers and experts of the game after the omission of the World number one Test bowler. Ashwin himself spoke on the same in an interview with the Indian Express after his brilliant outing in the first Test of the two-match series against West Indies.

“Staying in the present is very important with so much cricket being played around the globe. I was sad that we could not win the WTC final. Now, in this cycle, we are in West Indies, and I want to be in the present,” said Ashwin to the Indian Express.

“It’s very tough. As a cricketer, when you have a shot at the WTC final, to be sitting out…all that is fine. But what is the difference between me and another youngster or another person if I also end up sulking inside the dressing room? When we went for the WTC final, I was mentally and physically prepared to play, planned for the game but I was also prepared to be not playing the game,” he added later.