‘Selectors know what they are doing’ – R Ashwin backs selection of Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma

As we gear up for the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2023, India’s 17-member squad has initiated quite a conversation. Among those who missed out on a spot, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, and Ravichandran Ashwin have drawn considerable attention. This surprising exclusion has sparked debates on social media and among cricket fans.

Sanju Samson, who is set to travel to Sri Lanka as a backup for KL Rahul due to the latter’s reported niggle, was notably left out of the primary squad. Fans quickly took to social media to express their discontent, pointing to Samson’s impressive ODI average of 55 in contrast to the more modest 24 of Suryakumar Yadav.

Even newcomer Tilak Varma found himself facing criticism for getting a spot over Samson. The selection of a rookie with no ODI experience over a seasoned player like Samson left many questioning the selectors’ decision.

Ravichandran Ashwin, known for his thoughtful analysis, came forward to give his perspective. He firmly stood by the choices made by the selectors and criticised those who were questioning the selected players. In a YouTube video, Ashwin said that, “The selectors know what they are doing. In a huge country like India, when you select a squad, there will be some key players who will be missing the cut. So, just because your favourite is not there in the squad, you should not degrade the others.”

Ashwin didn’t stop there. He vocally supported the selections of Suryakumar and Tilak, stressing the importance of backing emerging talents. Defending Suryakumar’s inclusion, Ashwin emphasized his exceptional T20I record and the ‘x-factor’ he brings. While Suryakumar’s ODI performance hasn’t been great, Ashwin underscored the value of consistency and a longer run for a player with proven match-winning capabilities.

Talking about the persistent divide between IPL teams and Indian national representation, Ashwin pointed out that the spirit of unity should prevail once players don the national jersey. He asked fans to look beyond the IPL rivalry and support Indian players collectively.