With the All-rounder Hardik Pandya rested for the upcoming match against England in the World Cup 2023, former player Harbhajan Singh has named Ashwin for the match.
Harbhajan suggests Ashwin over Siraj
India has five consecutive wins in the World Cup 2023 and tops the points table. Recently India faced one of the strong teams in the campaign New Zealand where they won the match with four wickets in Dharamsala.
Virat Kohli shined with an impressive knock of 95 runs. India had a setback as the all-rounder Hardik Pandya was rested during the match against New Zealand. Suryakumar Yadav came in as a replacement but he was sent out with low figures.
Mohammed Shami was the second change in the playing 11 taking a five-wicket haul. Shardul was rested during the match.
On the other hand, England has only one win out of five matches they have played in the World Cup 2023. They suffered defeat in a low-score match against Sri Lanka where they failed to fold the latter within 156 runs.
On this occasion, Harbhajan Singh suggests resting Siraj and including Ashwin in the playing 11 for the upcoming game. He said that India can play all three spinners Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin.
He thinks Mohammed Siraj should be rested as he played five matches and Shami was impressive with a five-wicket haul in the first match of the World Cup 2023.
“Kuldeep Yadav has been in good form, and I’m curious if we’ll witness three spinners in the next game – Kuldeep, Jadeja, and Ashwin. It’s a possibility because England struggles against spin.
Currently, England is not performing well in the World Cup, and if the ball starts spinning, their performance might not improve. Opting for three spinners could be a good choice,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.
“Siraj can take a break; he’s been playing consecutive games. Shami recently joined the playing XI and took five wickets. If the pitch is normal without much turn expected, I don’t foresee many changes in the team. The lineup that faced New Zealand might stay the same. However, considering it’s England we’re up against, a slower pitch could be preferred,” he concluded.
Hardik Pandya has been sidelined from the side for a couple of matches due to a ligament tear. According to PTI, it is likely a Grade 1 sprain that entails “slight stretching and some damage to fibers (fibrils) of the ligament.”
India will be facing England in the World Cup 2023 on October 29 at Ekana Sports City, Lucknow.
