One of them has 536 Test wickets and is only behind the legendary Anil Kumble in India’s all-time list of wicket-takers. The other has 319 test dismissals to his credit. We don’t even consider the contributions – the former has six Test centuries to his name, and the latter has a batting average of 35 in 77 Tests – that they make regularly with the bat. But both Ravichandran Ashwin And Ravindra Jadeja were not considered in India’s XI for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India chose Washington Sundar ahead of Ashwin and Jadeja as the only spin-bowling all-rounder at Perth’s Optus Stadium.

Interestingly, the last time an Indian Test XI had neither Ashwin nor Jadeja was three years ago in Australia, in that historic Test match at the Gabba in Brisbane. But both were unavailable due to injuries. This time it’s different. It’s more tactical and fit than statistics and records. Because they are heavily favored by Ashwin and Jadeja, two of India’s biggest Test match-winners in cricket over the last decade.

Ashwin has 39 wickets in 10 Tests in Australia – this is the second most foreign wickets in three decades, only behind Anil Kumble, who has 49 in the same number of Tests. Jadeja, on the other hand, has the best bowling average among all foreign spinners in Australia (minimum 10 wickets). Jadeja has 14 wickets in 4 Tests at an excellent average of 21.78.

Why did India choose Sundar over Ashwin and Jadeja?

At first glance, it might seem like an awfully harsh call to leave out Ashwin and Jadeja and pick a youngster whose red-ball appearances have been sporadic not only at the international level but also in domestic cricket. But a closer look might reveal a different story.

India came up with four bowling options for the series opener. One of them is a seam bowling all-rounder, Nitish Kumar Reddy, who gives strength to their batting but makes them slightly vulnerable in the bowling department. They had to choose a spinner, who could get them wickets if needed, especially in the second innings.

Between Ashwin and Jadeja, although the latter has better bowling figures in Australia, we would lean more towards Ashwin, especially as an attacking option. The fact that Australia’s XI has three left-handers – Usman Khawaja, Travis Head and Alex Carey – also makes it more logical to choose an off-spinner rather than a left-arm spinner. The decision paid huge dividends for India in the last Test against New Zealand, where Sundar’s inspired selection brought them 16 wickets in two matches.

But the question here is: why Sundar rather than Ashwin? Can’t Ashwin do the job of off-spin specialist? He certainly can. But here also comes the factor of strengthening the lower order. For all his abilities with the bat, one would agree that Sundar has better technique for serving in the bouncy Australian conditions than Ashwin.

On current form, Sundar was by far the better spin-bowling all-rounder than veterans Ashwin and Jadeja, who had a rather indifferent game at home against New Zealand.

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar supported India’s decision to choose Sundar over Ashwin and Jadeja.

“I think the right decision was taken. Among the three spinners, he is the one who has been in great form. He is at the top of his game. Washy had a great series against New Zealand. Indian cricket is evolving “They left the big names left and went for someone who is at the peak of their skills given Australia have three left-handers in the top seven and tow more down the order,” Manjrekar said on. Star Sports.

Australia XI: Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

India XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah (captain), Mohammed Siraj