IND vs AUS Final: 'I Don't See a Place For Ravichandran Ashwin And Why Would You Even Tinker' - Gautam Gambhir

Veteran cricketer Gautam Gambhir feels that there is no place for Ravichandran Ashwin in India’s playing XI for the World Cup final clash against Australia on Sunday at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Gambhir, who was India’s hero in the 2011 ODI World Cup triumph, suggested that India should not tinker with the winning combination.

Ashwin has played only one match in the ongoing World Cup and that was against Australia as the pitch at Chennai had some assistance for the spinners.

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Meanwhile, the pitch at Narendra Modi Stadium is also expected to be a slow track which might open the doors for Ashwin in the XI once again.

However, Gambhir suggested that the current five bowlers have been performing exceedingly for the team.

“I don’t think so (on whether Ashwin will play). I don’t see a place for him and why would you even tinker with what is working for you. What better performance can you expect from your five bowlers,” Gambhir told Sportskeeda.

The former India opener also asserted that the team who will win the toss will look to bat first but he shied away from predicting whether it is going to be a high-scoring or low-scoring match.

“It’s a tough call. But I still feel whoever will win the toss will look to bat first. Runs on the board are runs on the board in a final. Let’s see depending on the conditions. It will depend on the kind of pitch whether we will get a high-scoring or low-scoring encounter,” he added.

Gambhir further said that he hopes India win the World Cup but even if it doesn’t happen, they have made the country proud with the quality of cricket they played throughout the tournament.

“At the end of the day, it’s just a battle between bat and ball. They don’t know that it’s a final. The occasion is in your head. As professional cricketers, you need to push it aside a bit if you want to deliver under pressure. I hope India wins the World Cup, but even if results don’t go their way, they have played good cricket and have made the country proud.”