Sunil Gavaskar backs Ravichandran Ashwin, slams Team India's selection policy

Mumbai: Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has censured the team management for constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, suggesting that this affects confidence of many players. While the Virat Kohli-led side has achieved a lot of success in recent times, Gavaskar expressed his displeasure regarding the management's selection policy.

Gavaskar said someone like Ashwin should be a regular in India’s test XI anywhere in the world. “You don’t become ICC’s No. 1 Test bowler for nothing. He has the ability to pick wickets anywhere in the world. The team management has to understand this and back him,” said the veteran.

The former India opener also gave the example of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Murali Vijay to back his claims.

“I remember last year in South Africa Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up a lot of wickets in the first Test, he really swung the ball but he was dropped for the next Test. Murali Vijay too I believe should have been given a longer run.

“Selection has to be in such a way that the confidence of the player is not down. I mean there may be communication inside the dressing room which we are certainly not aware,” Gavaskar said.