The veteran Indian spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin made a comeback to the Indian team T20I side for the ongoing 5-match series against West Indies and it left many surprised. Since the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2021, Ashwin had barely played the shortest format games for India. But, his return ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup suggests that he is still in the selectors’ plans.

R Ashwin found himself in playing XI as India and West Indies locked horns with each other in the opening game of the T20I series. The Tamil Nadu-born off-spinner also produced a fine performance, picking up a couple of wickets for 22 runs in 4 overs. Yet, former India wicket-keeper batsman Parthiv Patel doesn’t think Ashwin will be able to find a place in this year’s T20 World Cup squad.

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India fielded a total of three spinners in the first T20I, with Ravi Bishnoi and Ravindra Jadeja joining hands with Ashwin in the unit. Parthiv Patel reckons that if India decides to field two spinners in the 2nd T20I, Ashwin will be expected to lose his place in the playing XI.

Parthiv Patel didn’t shy away from suggesting that the likes of Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Bishnoi bring more variety into the game, being wrist spinners than RAshwin does.

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During a post-match chat on Cricbuzz, Parthiv Patel said, “I see Bishnoi playing ahead of Ashwin in the next game (if India decide to go with two spinners). I don’t see Ashwin playing the T20 World Cup, to be honest. I would want variety in Kuldeep Yadav, Bishnoi and (Yuzvendra) Chahal. Wrist spinners give that attacking option in between. Ashwin doesn’t give you that.”

India continued their dominating performance over the hosts West Indies as they registered another huge win by 68 runs in the 1st T20I on Friday (July 29) at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad.