According to Sanjay Manjrekar, if the India vs. Afghanistan World Cup 2023 match is played on a flat surface, he does not expect Ravichandran Ashwin to be included in India’s playing XI.
The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi will witness an intense clash between the two teams on Wednesday, October 11. In the previous match held at this venue, South Africa displayed their batting prowess by scoring a massive total of 428-5. In response, Sri Lanka gave a strong fight and managed to score 326 runs.
During a conversation on Star Sports, Manjrekar expressed his opposition to Ashwin being used as the third spinner, explaining:
“My view is that unless there is a compelling reason, I don’t like Hardik Pandya as your third seamer. I think he also feels the pressure if he is the third seamer.”
“What is likely to happen is that if the pitch is similar to the one that we had in that South Africa-Sri Lanka game, which was a belter, there was nothing there for the spinners, I don’t see Ashwin playing on that surface.”
Sanjay Manjrekar
Shardul Thakur or Mohammed Shami are likely to replace the offspinner in Manjrekar’s starting XI:
“India will add more batting depth unless they feel that they will get in pace quality against Afghanistan on this flat pitch. But they have shown their cards very early coming into the World Cup.
“They are not very keen to go one batter short. Shardul Thakur or Mohammed Shami is the change that I see if that’s the exact same surface that we get in Delhi.”
Sanjay Manjrekar
As a last-minute injury replacement for Axar Patel, Ashwin was named to India’s World Cup roster. In India’s six-wicket triumph against Australia in their World Cup opener, the shrewd spinner had figures of 1-34 in 10 overs.
Shami should have played in the first game: Simon Doull unsure of Ashwin’s place
Former New Zealand seamer Simon Doull believes Mohammed Shami should take R Ashwin’s spot in India’s playing XI:
“I was very surprised they didn’t play Shami in the first game. I know (Mohammed) Siraj is gun and (Jasprit) Bumrah is there, but I still think Shami is one of the better seamers in the world at the moment.
“So, it’s a great problem to have for them. I just wonder on the smaller ground whether the spinner might be left out for a seamer.”
Simon Doull
Shami took four wickets, including a hat-trick, in India’s World Cup match against Afghanistan in 2019. However, he is unlikely to be included to the XI for Wednesday’s game if Rohit Sharma and co. want a bowler who can effectively use the willow at No. 8.