Many Indian supporters are not aware of the old bond between Gautam Gambhir and Ravichandran Ashwin. The former batter captained the spin legend during the latter’s first ODI series. Ashwin made his ODI debut on June 5, 2010, in Harare against Sri Lanka, under the captaincy of Suresh Raina. His next one-day international (ODI) match was in Visakhapatnam against Australia.

Ashwin then featured in a five-match ODI series against New Zealand in 2010. Gambhir was the team’s captain.

During a conversation on Ashwin’s podcast, Gambhir praised Ashwin for his accomplishments but also conveyed his dissatisfaction over India’s failure to fully utilize his batting skill.

“I must congratulate you for your accomplishments. 100 Tests, 500 wickets, but you’re must a little frustrated that this country hasn’t recognized your batting prowess, particularly in white ball cricket,” remarked Gambhir.

“I don’t remember where I suggested, but I felt you should have batted for India at No. 5 or No. 6. That is one thing that India has been deprived of. They are aware of your talent with the ball, but it’s likely that they are unaware of your potential with the bat,” he continued.

Ashwin’s talent with the bat is only been witnessed in Tests, where he has five centuries. With an average of 26.26 and 3309 Test runs, Ashwin has also amassed 14 half-centuries.

This was not replicated in the limited overs of the sport. Ashwin has scored 707 runs at an average of 16.44 in 116 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), with just one half-century. With an average of 26.28 and a strike rate of 114.99 in 65 T20I appearances, Ashwin has scored 184 runs. However, in the IPL this season, the Rajasthan Royals have frequently moved the 37-year-old up the order.

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