If there is one thing R. Ashwin knows all too well, it is the challenge of finding a place in the XI overseas, where conditions favour fast bowlers.
While Varun is returning from injury and is yet to regain his best form and fitness, Ashwin expects him to be the preferred one. “It’ll be interesting to watch how he comes back from his injury, and side strains aren’t easy for a spinner. I wish him the best and I hope both of them get opportunities to explore their skill in that part of the world,” he added. “If I were New Zealand, I would give slightly challenging pitches to India.
The 40-year-old feels the left-arm wrist spinner has been “treated unfairly” by the current think-tank. “Kuldeep hasn’t been the go-to man ever since this management has come to picking squads, and I think it’s quite unfortunate,” Ashwin said during a virtual media interaction. Referring to Kuldeep’s exploits in India’s recent series against the West Indies, he said: “With so much dew, and when you know the conditions are against the bowler, to pin it upon one bowler who’s produced results over the years is really unfair. “I think Varun will get the nod ahead of Kuldeep once again,” he said. But unfortunately, I am not,” he said, adding that he expects the white-ball leg to be high-scoring.