‘Cassata today, Sundae tomorrow’: Indian team’s Gabba Test selection criticized

Former Indian opener turned cricket expert Aakash Chopra has opened up about the selection process of the Indian team in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The main point Chopra made was the chopping and changing of the only spin-bowling all-rounder in the playing XI. Chopra remarked that India seems to play a different spinner every match, and remarked that if Kuldeep Yadav had made the squad, he would have been picked in the fourth Test.

In the third Test, experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was brought in as the lone spinner in the India XI in place of Ravichandran Ashwin. Earlier, Washington Sundar was picked as the only player for the first Test in Perth and, despite India winning, was dropped in favor of Ashwin.

“It seems like they want to play a new spinner in every Test match. Washi played in the first, Ashwin played in the second and Jadeja is playing in the third. Kuldeep could have played in the fourth if he had been there, and someone else in the fifth if there was one more spinner,” Chopra said, speaking on his YouTube channel.

Speaking about the constant changes made in this regard, Chopra brought up a comparison with everyone’s food choices. He also added that he felt none of the players had done anything wrong that warranted their exclusion.

“No one had done anything wrong. Washington Sundar did nothing wrong in Perth nor Ravichandran Ashwin did anything wrong in Adelaide,” Chopra said.

“There’s no continuity. It’s like wanting to eat cassata ice cream today, sundae tomorrow, then vanilla and chocolate,” Chopra added.

India will hope to bounce back and take the series lead in the third Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. However, weather conditions and rain can play an unforeseen role.