Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin made a massive remark on the team’s playing combination after the first T20I against New Zealand. Team India beat the Kiwis by four wickets at Christchurch and took a 1-0 lead as well.

“Does leaving spinners out become an easy choice because our coach and captain are good players of spin? New Zealand’s speciality is not spin, but both their best bowlers were spinners. We did not even use Naman Dhir. Many times it may happen like this, as our coach and captain are good players of spin, so that becomes the mindset. It is very natural. I am not pointing it out as a mistake. Maybe either Varun or Kuldeep could have played on this ground,” he said on ‘Ash ki Baat’.

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“One spinner should have played on this ground. This is among the biggest grounds in New Zealand. If you don’t play spinners here also, where else will you play them? If they thought of the conditions and did not play them, then it is a rookie mistake. New Zealand do not have such quality spinners, but still they played two spinners. What will happen? Will the spinner go for 50 runs? Fast bowlers are going for 50 anyway. At least there will be chances of getting wickets,” he added.

Meanwhile, the first T20I was another high-scoring match as well. Ravichandran Ashwin bluntly said that the Indian team would remain favourites if the pitches continue to be batting-friendly throughout the series as well.

“If you give such wickets, it might be good to look, but India will always be ahead. They are favorites on such pitches. New Zealand can take a leaf out of Ireland’s book. They troubled India with the pitches they made. If there are flat batting wickets, they cannot trouble India. But there has to be some help for the bowlers,” R Ashwin concluded.