Mohammad Kaif reckons offie R Ashwin can be 'valuable asset' for India in T20Is

Mohammad Kaif reckons that Ravichandran Ashwin can represent Team India in shortest format of game i.e. in T20Is after he had an excellent run in Dream11 IPL 2020 where he had dismissed a few power-hitters. Ashwin mand 13 scalps in 15 matches as Delhi went on to make ir first-ever final appearance since inception of marquee tournament in 2008. However, y were just t good in decider against Mumbai who successfully retained ir title with a five-wicket win in a one-sided contest. 

Kaif serves as assistant coach of Delhi team. 

'A valuable asset' 

Taking to micro-blogging site, former Indian middle-order batsman wrote that veteran offie's list of big scalps from IPL 13 included likes of Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli, Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma, his team-mates as well as explosive batsmen Kieron Pollard and, Quinton de Kock, Punjab's power-hitters Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Karun Nair, young Bangalore opener Devdutt Padikkal, elegant Hyderabad skipper David Warner and dynamic duo of Rajasthan- skipper Steve Smith and, Jos Buttler, etc. 

At same time, Kaif also mentioned that most of his wickets had come in Powerplay overs (in first 6 overs when fielders are inside 30-yard circle). cricketer-turned-commentator/analyst concluded by saying he feels that Test specialist can still be a valuable asset for India in T20Is.

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R Ashwin's limited-overs career & tour of Australia

Ravi Ashwin has been India's Test specialist for last few years. He had last played white-ball cricket of India back in July 2017 when West Indies had hosted India in a one-off T20I match. 'Ash' was longer in team's scheme of things in limited-overs after emergence of wrist-spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal later in year. 

Tamil Nadu all-rounder has 150 scalps from 111 One Day Internationals and 52 wickets in 46 T20I matches. Coincidentally, his last appearance in an ICC event had also come in same year during ICC Champions Trophy where Men In Blue made it to finals but suffered a bitter defeat by a mammoth 180 runs at hands of arch-rivals Pakistan. off-spinner had a forgettable day as he finished with figures of 0/70 from 10 overs.

Chennai-based all-rounder will next be seen in action in upcoming four-match Test series against Australia starting December 17. 

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