'Virat Kohli wanted R Ashwin for the 20-20 World Cup': Sourav Ganguly

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly has revealed that the decision to include Ravichandran Ashwin in the 20-20 World Cup squad was taken after Virat Kohli requested for the same. Ashwin’s inclusion in the team raised a lot of eyebrows as the spinner had not played white-ball cricket in Indian jersey for the last three years. Also, he was preferred over Yuzvendra Chahal, who had shown decent form in the preceding 20-20 World Cup.

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However, despite being in the primary squad, the veteran spinner was not included in the first two matches against Pakistan and New Zealand. The 34-year-old played the remaining three games and accounted for six wickets.

Ashwin’s inclusion didn’t solve the purpose for India as they bowed out of the tournament from the Super 12 stage. His good showing though proved that he still has a lot to offer to the team in the white-ball formats.

“I wasn’t sure whether he would be a part of the white-ball (set-up). But then Virat Kohli wanted him in the side. And whatever little bit of opportunity he got, I thought he was superb,” Ganguly said on Boria Majumdar’s show ‘Backstage with Boria’.

Ganguly also said that Ashwin’s phenomenal Test record makes him hard to ignore. “Look at his Test record, it is phenomenal. It does not need me to say Ravichandran Ashwin is exceptional. His record and his performances show that he is exceptional. And you can’t ignore such players. You cannot just turn your eyes and say that he’s gone. I am not surprised with what he is doing,” said the former Indian captain.”