The recently concluded World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia left cricket fans around the world in awe. However, amidst the excitement, a decision made by the Indian team management drew strong criticism from none other than the legendary Indian cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar.
In a series of tweets, Tendulkar expressed his disappointment with the exclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin from the playing XI, despite his exceptional form and the presence of several left-handed batters in the Australian team. Let's delve deeper into Tendulkar's perspective and analyze the outcome of the match.
The Unanswered Query:
Sachin Tendulkar, an iconic figure in Indian cricket, openly questioned the decision to omit Ravichandran Ashwin from the playing XI in the WTC final against Australia. With Ashwin currently ranked as the number one Test bowler in the world, Tendulkar failed to comprehend why the team management overlooked his abilities.
Taking to Twitter, Tendulkar wrote, "I fail to understand the exclusion of @ashwinravi99 in the playing XI, who is currently the number one Test bowler in the world."
Congratulations to Team Australia on winning the #WTCFinal. @stevesmith49 and @travishead34 set a solid foundation on Day one itself to tilt the game in their favour. India had to bat big in the first innings to stay in the game, but they couldn’t. There were some good moments…
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) June 11, 2023
Commendation for Australia's Centurions:
While expressing his disappointment with India's performance, Sachin Tendulkar also acknowledged the remarkable batting display put up by Australia's centurions, Travis Head and Steve Smith. The duo's partnership of 285 runs on Day 1 played a pivotal role in setting the foundation for Australia's eventual victory.
Tendulkar congratulated Team Australia, stating, "Congratulations to Team Australia on winning the #WTCFinal. @stevesmith49 and @travishead34 set a solid foundation on Day one itself to tilt the game in their favor."
The Left-Handed Conundrum:
One aspect that perplexed Tendulkar even further was the fact that Australia fielded five left-handed batters in their playing XI. Tendulkar highlighted the significance of skillful spinners like Ashwin, who can utilize the drift and bounce to deceive batsmen, irrespective of the nature of the pitch.
He added, "Like I had mentioned before the match, skillful spinners don't always rely on turning tracks, they use drift in the air and bounce off the surface to disguise their variations. Not to forget, Australia had 5 left-handers out of their top 8 batters."
India's Missed Opportunity:
Sachin Tendulkar observed that for India to compete in the WTC final, they needed to post a substantial first-innings total. Unfortunately, the Indian batsmen failed to deliver, and their inability to bat big became a significant setback. Tendulkar mentioned that there were still a few positive moments for Team India but acknowledged that batting dominance was crucial for their success.
A Decade Without a Trophy:
The WTC final loss against Australia marked another global tournament disappointment for India. It has been a decade since the Indian men's cricket team last won a major trophy. This includes the World Test final in 2021 against New Zealand in Southampton. The prolonged drought of international success raises concerns and puts the spotlight on the team's performance in crucial tournaments.
Conclusion:
Sachin Tendulkar's criticism of the exclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin from the playing XI in the WTC final has ignited a significant debate within the cricketing fraternity. The failure to understand the team management's decision, coupled with the dominance of left-handed batters in the Australian team, further added to the intrigue surrounding Ashwin's omission.
While praising Australia's centurions, Tendulkar acknowledged India's missed opportunities and emphasized the importance of batting big in crucial matches. As India continues its quest for global glory, the pressure mounts to address the issues that have hindered their success in recent years.
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