“I will play…”: Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun speaks on spin bowler's dilemma

Former Indian bowling coach Bharat Arun said that Team India should use experienced all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin as its first-choice spinner during the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Arun was speaking to RevSportz and said that the veteran is a “very thoughtful” player and had an impact during the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he took 12 wickets in three matches and a match-drawing block-A. Thon played. Hanuma Vihari has not been given proper recognition in Sydney.

“If you ask me, I would play Ashwin as India's first-choice spinner. He has experience of playing in Australia and is a highly thought-provoking cricketer. His impact in the last series was not always given due recognition The way he bowled against Steve Smith, his record against Usman Khawaja, the presence of left-handed batsmen in the lineup – you have to say it has to be Ashwin, also, think about his Sydney effort and you find out Will go about what I'm saying,” Arun said to RevSportz.

In 10 Test matches in Australia, Ashwin has taken 39 wickets at a disappointing average of 42.15, with a best performance of 4/55. He has also scored 384 runs in 19 innings at an average of 24.00, with two fifties to his name.

Along with his partner-spin Jadeja, Ashwin has more experience but Jadeja has better stats. In four Test matches, Jadeja has taken 14 wickets at an average of around 21, with his best figures of 4/62. He has also scored 175 runs in five innings at an average of 43.75 and two half-centuries.

Additionally, Washington, who scored a half-century and scored a total of 84 runs and took a total of four wickets in his lone Test match in Australia, is also in contention to play after an impressive home series against New Zealand in which he took 16 wickets in the two matches. , topped the charts, and also scored 89 runs in four innings.

Speaking about the inexperience of the Indian bowling line-up, which was left without Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Jadeja and Umesh Yadav during the prestigious Gabba Test in 2021 due to injuries, Arun said Washington, Shardul Thakur and T Natarajan has been included in this. As a backup/net bowler, he stayed with the team and gained clarity about his roles when he watched the entire Test series in Australia.

Arun said, “It can never be easy to lose Jasprit (Bumrah), Ashwin, (Mohammed) Shami, Umesh (Yadav) and (Ravindra) Jadeja. You have really lost your entire attack. But you see, that's That's where you need to go as a coach, you have to enjoy the challenge, with Bumrah, Shami and Ashwin, you know everyone is there to work for you. The legend, whether it's Bharat Arun or not, is a little easier when each of these bowlers are available to you.”

“At the Gabba, however, things were very different. You could say we got lucky because of Covid-19. It was only because of the time we were living in that we had Washington, T Natarajan and Shardul Thakur in our team. We couldn't find a replacement from India and it made sense to keep him back in case it happened, which meant he was part of every dressing room conversation and every practice session. we wanted and what we Wanted. After being with us for two months, none of them needed to be told what we wanted from them,” he said.

Arun recalled that this inexperienced bowling line-up enjoyed the challenge of beating Australia at the Gabba to win the series and kept things simple.

“Each of these players has made it to the Indian team for a reason. They are good enough to be in the top 20 in the country. Each has their own strengths and that's what we have reminded them of. Bowl to them as per their strengths. Needs to be done.” And don't worry about the result. They did, and the rest is history,” he concluded.

After the series opener in Perth on November 22, the second Test, featuring a day-night format, will take place under floodlights at the Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10.

After this, the focus of the fans will be on Brisbane's Gabba for the third Test to be held from 14 to 18 December. The traditional Boxing Day Test, to be held from December 26 to 30 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, will mark the final leg of the series.

The fifth and final Test will be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7, which promises to be an exciting climax to a highly anticipated series.

India's team for Border-Gavaskar series: Rohit Sharma (captain), Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant ( Wicketkeeper), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal.

Australia team for the first test: Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc.