Ignoring excellence has a price. This opinion piece looks at how R Ashwin, one of India’s greatest Test spinners, was repeatedly left out in favour of less accomplished options.

Ignoring Excellence, Embracing Mediocrity

It is utterly perplexing that the team management, including captain Rohit Sharma, senior batsman Virat Kohli, and coach Rahul Dravid, consistently overlook Ashwin’s brilliance in favor of mediocre pacemen. Ashwin’s records and match-winning performances speak for themselves, making it all the more baffling why he is sidelined time and again for bowlers with fewer accomplishments.

Unmatched Brilliance, Unworthy Treatment

Ashwin’s ability to weave magic with the ball, confounding batsmen with his variations and spin, is a cricketing gem that has gone underappreciated. His numerous Man of the Series awards and record-breaking achievements are unparalleled, yet the team management seems to turn a blind eye to his talent, opting for lackluster pacers instead.

Bias Distorting Selections

The bias against spinners is evident in the team selections, where Ashwin’s name is consistently missing, while far less deserving pacemen with few dozen of wickets are given preferential treatment. This distorted approach in team selections undermines the credibility of Indian cricket and casts a shadow of doubt on the competence of the team management and questions their intentions if they want India to win or play their team.

Pacemen Fever: Blind to Spin Wizardry

The obsession with pace bowlers seems to blind the team management to the wizardry that Ashwin brings to the game, even Axar Patel is forever on the sidelines. While fast bowlers might grab attention with their pace and aggression, it should not come at the expense of ignoring the artistry and intellect that a skilled spinner like Ravichandran Ashwin brings to the field.

The Need for Accountability

It is high time the team management is held accountable for their prejudiced decisions. The constant sidelining of Ashwin and the lack of appreciation for his contributions raise serious questions about the transparency and fairness of the selection process.

Celebrating Excellence, Not Mediocrity

Cricket is a team sport that demands a meritocratic approach, where talent and performance should dictate team selections. The unwarranted preference for ordinary pacemen, while dismissing the brilliance of world no. 1 spinner, is an insult to the sport itself.

Conclusion

The harsh truth is that Indian cricket has been plagued by an unjust bias against spinners, with Ravichandran Ashwin being the most prominent victim of this malpractice followed by Axar Patel’s and Kuldeep Yadav’s. All three spinners grab more than 4 wickets per test match whereas none of the pacemen who play for India take more than 3 wickets a test on an average, some are hovering just above 2.

Ashwin’s exceptional talent of grabbing more than 5 wickets in a test match is the best in the world now, unmatched achievements, and match-winning prowess deserve recognition and appreciation, not neglect and ignorance. It is time for the team management to wake up from their pacemen fever and embrace the true gems of Indian cricket—spinners like Ashwin, who enrich the sport with their brilliance.

Failure to acknowledge and celebrate his excellence is not only a disservice to Ashwin but also a disgrace to the spirit of cricket. The time for change is now; let us stand up against this bias and demand the rightful place of our spin wizard in Indian cricket history.

Ignoring Excellence: What Selectors Should Do Differently

• Select on current form and record, not reputation or bias.
• Value spin in conditions where it wins matches.
• Explain big selection calls publicly to build trust.

See Ashwin’s full career record on ESPNcricinfo, and read about the Ashwin vs Jaiswal man of the match controversy.

Ignoring Excellence: FAQs

How many Test wickets did R Ashwin take?

Ashwin finished his Test career with more than 500 wickets, among the most by any Indian bowler.

Why does this article say India was ignoring excellence?

The author argues that Ashwin was benched in key matches despite a record far better than the bowlers chosen ahead of him.