Ashwin Warns India: Don’t Sacrifice Pacers for Batting Depth Ahead of T20 World Cup
- R Ashwin believes Gautam Gambhir prioritizes batting depth and spinners since becoming India’s head coach.
- Arshdeep Singh was benched in India’s Asia Cup 2025 opener against UAE despite being the team’s top T20I wicket-taker.
- Ashwin said Arshdeep would be “upset” and warned that a spin-heavy approach could backfire in Indian conditions.
- He urged India to include an extra pacer, stressing that “bowlers always win you championships.”
Former India off-spinner R Ashwin has shed light on the tactical shift in Indian cricket since Gautam Gambhir took charge as head coach. According to Ashwin, the new philosophy revolves around building batting depth across formats, even if it comes at the expense of frontline bowlers.
The comments came after Arshdeep Singh, India’s leading T20I wicket-taker, was left out of the playing XI for the team’s Asia Cup 2025 opener against the UAE in Dubai on September 10. India fielded just one specialist pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, while relying on all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube for seam bowling support. The spin department was loaded with Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakaravarthy.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin observed that Gambhir’s coaching style strongly favors spin and batting depth, a trait visible during his stint as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain in the IPL as well.
“It’s surprising but not a new thing since Gautam Gambhir’s era began. Even in the Champions Trophy, when the wickets were dry, they went with a light seamer. They could have played Arshdeep there. It’s been a theme that we could see till the T20 World Cup,” Ashwin said.
“Do You Really Need an Extra Batter Against UAE?”
Ashwin argued that India’s decision to strengthen the batting against a relatively weaker opponent like UAE was unnecessary. The men in blue bowled out their opponents for just 57 runs before chasing down the target in 4.3 overs.
“There are two things Gambhir and even Suryakumar (Yadav) are leaning towards. One is batting depth. (But) Do you really need an extra batter against the UAE and use Shivam Dube as the fifth bowler? If I were Arshdeep, I would be really disappointed,” Ashwin explained.
The 25-year-old left-arm pacer has been one of India’s most consistent performers in the shortest format, topping the wicket charts and delivering match-winning spells in the T20 World Cup that India recently won.
Ashwin’s Warning: Don’t Go Too Spin-Heavy
While acknowledging Gambhir’s trust in spinners, Ashwin cautioned that an over-reliance on them could be risky in Indian conditions, especially with night matches and dew in play.
“If India is going to go spin-heavy and play in spin-friendly conditions, I do think it is quite a dangerous thing. With this batting lineup, I wouldn’t really go spin-heavy. But I do think we need to play the extra seamer in India,” he said.
Ashwin suggested India must find a balance without axing spinners like Kuldeep or Varun. Instead, he floated the idea of sacrificing elsewhere in the lineup to ensure the inclusion of another pacer.
“Abhishek Sharma is also bowling, so you have to sacrifice somewhere else to play the extra seamer. Bowlers always win you championships,” Ashwin concluded.
India will next face arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai in what promises to be a high-voltage Group A clash.
