Chennai (Tamil Nadu), April 21 (ANI): Ex-Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has rejected the idea of forming a second-string Indian T20 team. He argued that India caps should not be given out freely and suggested using ‘A’ team tours to provide players with more exposure.
Ashwin shared his views on ‘Ash Ki Baat’ amid reports about creating two separate teams for the shortest format due to scheduling conflicts during home series against West Indies and the Asian Games.
He criticized plans to form a weaker team, featuring IPL stars like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Priyansh Arya, to play against associate nations. Ashwin emphasized that the India cap represents pride and respect, stating players should earn it through merit rather than being handed out casually.
“If you want to give them exposure, send them on India A tours,” he said. “But you can’t just distribute India caps for free.” He also suggested televising these tours to engage fans.
India’s upcoming schedule includes T20 matches against Afghanistan, Ireland, England, and Zimbabwe before the World Cup in 2027. After a Test series against Afghanistan, they will face West Indies and Sri Lanka later in the year.