Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has lauded former captain Rohit Sharma and ex-head coach Rahul Dravid for shaping India’s aggressive batting approach in limited-overs cricket. Ashwin said the duo not only promoted a more attacking style but also led by example, driving a significant shift in India’s T20I and ODI strategy.
“Rohit as a captain has always stamped his authority by showing the team what he expects. The transitional batting that India has gone through in T20s and ODIs, the way we bat fast—a lot of credit goes to Rohit and Rahul bhai,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat.
“They showed the way. Rahul bhai guided the approach, and Rohit led from the front. Together, they changed how India perceives batting in white-ball cricket—it's no longer about average, it’s about strike rate,” he added.
Under their leadership, India embraced a proactive style after several disappointing ICC campaigns. This shift was evident during the 2023 ODI World Cup at home, where India dominated the league stage, and later during the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph in the Caribbean and USA.
Ashwin also urged fans to cherish the remaining time with stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who now play only ODIs. “We should celebrate them while they are still playing because once they retire, nostalgia will take over. Time moves fast, and it’s important to enjoy their cricket while we can,” he said.
Ashwin also raised questions about India’s team selection after all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was left out of the playing XI in the first ODI against South Africa, despite Hardik Pandya being unavailable. Many expected Reddy, a pace-bowling all-rounder like Pandya, to feature, but he remained on the bench.
“If we can’t find a place for Nitish Kumar Reddy in a team without Hardik Pandya, then there’s something wrong with the selection. He was picked for his potential to fill Hardik’s role and improve over time. If he can’t play in this XI, the squad selection needs a proper review,” Ashwin said.
(By PTI Inputs)
