Cricket News: Former Indian selector backs Ashwin for Test leadership role

Team India endured yet another setback after they were defeated by Australia in the World Test Championship final.

Taking on the Pat Cummins-led team, the Aussies dominated India across the five-day match, winning by 209 runs and capturing their maiden WTC title.

Following the WTC final, Team India will head to the Caribbean for a multi-format series against the West Indies in July-August.

Former national selector Devang Gandhi spoke up ahead of the series, saying that giving a youngster like Yashasvi Jaiswal an opportunity in the Test series instead of Pujara may work wonders for India.

With the new WTC cycle about to begin soon, Team India will be aiming to replace their lineup following their disappointing loss to Australia in the summit showdown.

"The problem is that you give a West Indies Test series to Pujara, and if he scores, you have got to persist with him for one more year as there are no Tests after this till December. So do you do that or straightaway get a youngster and get him ready for bigger battles"

Devang Gandhi was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Furthermore, he claimed that while 23-year-old Shubman Gill may be the Indian captain in the future, someone like Ravichandran Ashwin or Ajinkya Rahane may be given a leadership position till the youth reach the age of majority.

"Why not Ashwin? And if you say that he is not a certainty overseas, then I would say even Rahane, despite being a vice-captain, was dropped from playing XI at one point. So even Ashwin can be considered or Rahane for a short time before Gill cements his place in Test XI"

Gandhi said.

The first Test between India and the West Indies will begin on July 12, with the second Test beginning on July 20. Furthermore, the first Test will be held in Dominica, with the second Test being held in Trinidad.

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