Ravichandran Ashwin advocates for 'pressure parameters' in BCCI selection process

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Jan 25, 2025, 14:41 IST

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Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin supports Ajit Agarkar amidst debates over India's Champions Trophy squad. He acknowledges the challenges faced by selectors due to India's deep talent pool. Ashwin stresses the need for prioritising performances under pressure, citing players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Ruturaj Gaikwad, and the importance of a structured approach in selecting players for major tournaments.

Ravichandran Ashwin

NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced his support for Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of the BCCI's selection committee, amidst ongoing debates about India's Champions Trophy squad. The exclusion of players like Sanju Samson, Karun Nair, and Ruturaj Gaikwad has sparked discussions and criticism, despite India's wealth of batting talent.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin acknowledged the challenges faced by selectors. He admitted, "I don't want to be the chairman of selectors or in any decision-making position. It's an unenviable task."
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Ashwin highlighted the depth of India's talent pool, citing the example of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who should be the preferred opener.

"Yashasvi Jaiswal, for example, has to come back into the T20I setup. He was in the World Cup squad and should be the preferred opener. But when players like Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad also perform in the IPL, it creates a problem of plenty for selectors," Ashwin explained.

Champions Trophy Squad: Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and skipper Rohit Sharma PC

Ashwin emphasised the need for a more structured approach to identifying players for major tournaments. He stressed the importance of prioritising performances under pressure in modern cricket.
"Going forward, we must prioritise performances under pressure. Modern cricket is full of talented players who time the ball well, but we need a matrix to evaluate their ability to deliver in crunch situations," he said.
Ashwin's comments underscore the evolving landscape of Indian cricket, where competition for spots is intense, and decision-makers face increasing scrutiny. Finding the right balance between talent and temperament is crucial in building a team that excels in high-stakes tournaments.

India squad for ICC Champions Trophy

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja.

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