S Madan Lal: Ash, Chahal should have been picked

R Ashwin

Former India all-rounder S Madan Lal has slammed the exclusion of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and leggie Yuzvendra Chahal from the Asia Cup squad. The selectors picked spin bowling all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the 17-member squad announced on Monday. "Ashwin is the best and he should have been there in the team," Madan Lal told mid-day.

S Madan Lal

"On Asian wickets, batting will not be a problem, but if India want to win the Asia Cup, they will have to bowl well. I must say Axar has improved a lot in the last two years, but don't they [Axar and Jadeja] play in almost the same way [both are left-arm spinners and left-handed batsmen]? That's the reason I would have preferred to have both Ashwin and Chahal in the squad," he said.

Ashwin last played an ODI for India in January 2022 in South Africa. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul are making a comeback after undergoing thigh and back surgeries respectively and Madan Lal believes that's a concern. Iyer last played in a Test series against Australia in March this year, while Rahul had to withdraw in the middle of IPL-16. "They [Iyer and Rahul] haven't played for a long time now. That's a bit of a worry. If they play well, challenging their injury, it will be great for the team," said the former India coach.