Cricket News: Is it wise to drop Dinesh Karthik and Ravichandran Ashwin?

Neither Ravichandran Ashwin nor Dinesh Karthik was named in either the squads for the New Zealand ODIs and T20Is, or the ODI series against Bangladesh. 

It seemed a weird call to make on the surface, especially since both Ravichandran Ashwin and Dinesh Karthik are not only part of the T20 World Cup 2022 squad but are also both part of the first-choice playing XI. 

However, dig a little deeper, and it makes a lot more sense – even if the move might seem harsh initially. 

In DK’s case, chief selector Chetan Sharma made it clear that the team is not looking to replace him. 

“It’s not like that (that selectors are looking for other finishers). The World Cup is going on and this is more about load management,” Chetan Sharma told journalists during the press conference announcing the teams. 

“We are focusing on who to rest and who to play. And the way he came to our side and the way he performed, he is always available, but in the T20I games immediately after the World Cup, we are looking to try a different set of players."

“Otherwise the doors are open for him and he’s a brilliant player.” 

The main question is, does this read as softening the blow or is it the actual truth? The honest answer lies somewhere in between. 

The selectors will doubtless be looking past Dinesh Karthik after this World Cup. He’s on the wrong side of 30 and hasn’t lit the stage on fire in the chances that he’s got. 

There’s also the fact that even if he were in flying form, the team would be looking at alternatives, given his age and declining wicketkeeping skills. 

Thus, the door isn’t entirely closed on Dinesh Karthik – but he certainly is edging closer towards the exit. But in the case of Ravichandran Ashwin, it is even more complicated. 

Ravichandran Ashwin isn’t someone who’s had a late renaissance of any sort. He’s not even featured regularly in the white-ball scheme despite having played the last two T20 World Cups. 

He’s there because skipper Rohit Sharma rates his thinking and analytical style of play. Not that it's guaranteed him an extended run in the squad. 

He was all but gone from the squad post the 2021 World Cup, then found his way back into the side out of the blue for the tour of West Indies. 

And despite not having any notable performances of note, he displaced Yuzvendra Chahal in the line-up – mainly due to Yuzvendra Chahal’s poor run of form in the run-up to the 2022 World Cup. 

Yet while Dinesh Karthik featured in no squads announced, Ravichandran Ashwin featured in one – the Test squad for the Bangladesh series. 

It shows that, while he remains a guaranteed member of the red-ball squad, this late recall to the white-ball team might be his last. 

Unless he suddenly gets called back to the side for the 2023 ODI World Cup!