Former Chennai Super Kings player Ravichandran Ashwin has warned India about their struggles on slow and turning pitches. Ashwin pointed out their recent performances in Ireland and England, stating that opposition teams could target this weakness by preparing pitches that offer more assistance to spin.
India survived a scare against Japan in the historic one-off T20I at the Sano International Cricket Ground on Tuesday, September 22. The rain-affected match was reduced to five overs per side, with India’s top order struggling on the damp surface before Shreyas Iyer’s side secured a narrow two-run victory.
Ravichandran Ashwin Warns India About Slow-Pitch Vulnerability
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin explained that India’s batters could struggle when they do not get the flat pitches they are accustomed to in the IPL. He said opposition teams have identified this weakness and could deliberately prepare surfaces that offer turn and lateral movement.
“I thought India would make 50 or 60 runs. If I am following Indian cricket from anywhere, I will give this Indian team a pitch where the ball will turn or where there will be lateral movement. I think this batting lineup will be troubled if the pitch is not placid. India is so used to playing IPL on placid pitches that if other teams start preparing different pitches, it could be really challenging for the Indian batting line up. I asked all my teammates from Ireland during the ETPL what the plan against India was. They said that they did not want to give India free-flowing batting pitches,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
India struggled in their recent series against Ireland and England before dominating Afghanistan in a 3-0 T20I series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
The same concern was visible against Japan, with Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan unable to make an impact on the slow and damp surface. India managed only 32/4 in five overs before restricting Japan to 30/3 to win the match by two runs.
Ravichandran Ashwin Backs Shorter Games for Associate Teams
Ravichandran Ashwin also praised Japan for pushing India close in the rain-shortened contest. The former India spinner believes shorter formats could help Associate nations compete more effectively against Full Members.
“I enjoyed watching the way the ball was spinning. I enjoyed that a lot as a spinner. I loved what Japan brought to the table. Get a shorter version of the game, like five or six overs, maybe for the Olympics. If the overs are less, then these smaller teams can also fight. So, I think that is a very exciting format,” he suggested.
Japan captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming and his teammates will now turn their attention to the Asian Games 2026. India, meanwhile, have directly qualified for the quarter-finals of the cricket competition.
Ravichandran Ashwin Expects New Zealand to Target India
Ravichandran Ashwin was also asked whether his comments could help New Zealand prepare turning pitches when India tour the country later this year. He dismissed the suggestion, saying the Blackcaps would already be aware of India’s problems against movement and spin.
“Am I the only one watching cricket, aren’t they also watching? New Zealanders are supposed to be the smartest cricketing team. They will make a pitch like this. They will give you pitches that will trouble you. In fact, it is not far-fetched that we will encounter pitches that spin even in SENA countries,” he said.
India are scheduled to tour New Zealand after the Asian Games 2026 campaign and their home series against the West Indies. The tour will begin with a five-match T20I series in Christchurch on October 22, followed by the remaining matches of the all-format assignment.
Source: cricketaddictor.com
