Gautam Gambhir Laments India's Missed Opportunity with Ashwin's Batting

Ravichandran Ashwin, India's premier off-spinner, has been a force to reckon with in the longest format of the game. However, former India opener Gautam Gambhir believes that the nation has missed out on witnessing Ashwin's true potential with the bat in white-ball cricket.

In the domestic circuit, Ashwin has established himself as a genuine all-rounder, showcasing his prowess with both bat and ball. However, for India, he has primarily been utilized as a bowler, leaving his batting abilities largely untapped.

Gambhir expressed his disappointment over this missed opportunity, stating that Ashwin's batting potential has not been fully realized at the international level. "A bit disappointed, this country hasn't seen the potential which you had with the bat, especially in white-ball cricket," Gambhir said in an episode of Ashwin's Kutti Stories.

Ashwin's first-class record is a testament to his batting prowess. In 156 matches, he has accumulated 5,221 runs at an average of 28.06. In List A cricket, he has amassed 1,346 runs at a strike rate of 77.35.

At the international level, Ashwin has shown glimpses of his batting ability. In 19 T20I innings, he has scored 184 runs, while in 63 ODI innings, he has amassed 707 runs.

One of Ashwin's most memorable batting performances came in 2011 against the West Indies in Mumbai. Chasing a mammoth total of 590, Ashwin played a pivotal role in India's fightback, scoring a brilliant 103.

While Ashwin's bowling prowess has earned him widespread recognition, Gambhir believes that India has missed out on a valuable opportunity to utilize his batting skills in white-ball cricket.

Tags: #RavichandranAshwin, #GautamGambhir, #IndiaCricket, #WhiteBallCricket, #AllRounder