NEW DELHI: With the 2027 ODI World Cup still some distance away, discussions around India's ideal team combination have already gathered momentum, and former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has offered a timely reality check on the bowling attack.
Ashwin feels India cannot load their playing XI with specialist spinners unless one of them also contributes meaningfully with the bat. He suggested that India may have to settle for just one frontline spinner, while relying on spin-bowling all-rounders such as Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja or Washington Sundar to complete the attack and maintain depth in the batting line-up.
"If you are playing two spinners, Kuldeep and Varun, then either of them have to be your number eight. So, it is difficult to play two spinners. You can have them in the squad. But then what about the spin batter you want in Axar, Jadeja, or Sundar. You can have two spinners but one has to be someone who can bat. So, India has to decide where to go. I think you can take only one specialist spinner," Ashwin said on his Youtube channel Ash ki Baat.
"And I am still saying the lesser you expose Varun the better. You have to use him properly. The novelty factor has to stay. I also liked how they rested him now too and dealt with it," he added.
Ashwin also singled out Abhishek Sharma for special mention, suggesting the young opener has the potential to grow into a useful spin resource for India if he continues to work on and back his bowling skills.
"Abhishek has skill as a bowler. He has more variety as well. He has hue potential. But a lot of batters start working less on their bowling because it affects the volume of their batting... I hope Abhishek takes his bowling seriously because he can contribute and be a good spin bowling all-rounder for India in the future," Ashwin said.
