"Is Ashwin not fully fit?" - Aakash Chopra on Washington Sundar's inclusion in India's squad for last 2 IND vs NZ 2024 Tests

Aakash Chopra has questioned whether Washington Sundar's inclusion in India's squad for the last two Tests against New Zealand implies that Ravichandran Ashwin is not fully fit. He pointed out that the veteran off-spinner was barely used during New Zealand's second innings of the first Test in Bengaluru.

India suffered an eight-wicket defeat in the opener and trail 1-0 in the three-match series. Sundar was subsequently added to the squad for the remaining two Tests to be played in Pune and Mumbai, respectively.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra expressed surprise about Sundar's addition to the squad and questioned whether it reflects Ashwin's fitness.

"Washington Sundar's name has come in the team. It was slightly on unexpected lines, although he scored a century just now. He was playing for Tamil Nadu and beat up Delhi. Sai Sudharsan also beat up Delhi. He scored a double hundred and Sundar scored a century," he said (3:45).

"He (Sundar) has been given a place in the team. The question that comes to mind is - what is the Indian team thinking? Do they want to play another spinner? There were already plenty of fast bowlers in the traveling reserves. Is Ashwin not fully fit?" the former India opener added.

Chopra noted that Ashwin wasn't introduced into the attack on the final day of the Bengaluru Test until the match was virtually over.

"Was it because of that he was given only two overs on the last day? He was bowled when the match was over. It just did not make sense that you don't bowl Ashwin at all. What is the logic behind that? Since you didn't bowl him, is he carrying some niggle and you want Washington Sundar as an almost like-for-like in terms of type of skill?" he observed.

Ashwin wasn't given the ball in the first 24 overs of New Zealand's second innings, with Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav preferred ahead of him. The Kiwis needed only 10 runs when the wily off-spinner was introduced. He went wicketless and conceded six runs in his two overs.

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"I am slightly split in which direction Washington Sundar's selection is pointing" - Aakash Chopra

In the same video, Aakash Chopra wasn't sure whether Washington Sundar might have alternatively been picked to play as the third spinner in place of Kuldeep Yadav.

"Are they thinking that they want to play three spinners, but should play another off-spinner along with Jaddu and Ashwin, and not play Kuldeep, as the opposition team has Tom Latham, Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway? Two of those three have scored runs. I am slightly split in which direction Washington Sundar's selection is pointing," he said (4:40).

Chopra pointed out that India will unlikely look to prepare a rank turner in Pune, especially due to the short notice before the second Test and the ongoing rain in the area. He added that a square turner prepared at the venue in 2017 against Australia had backfired.