Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin strongly rejected the idea of fielding a second national side in T20 internationals, saying the value of the Indian cap must be preserved.
Ashwin was speaking on his show Ash Ki Baat amid reports that India could split the squads due to a busy schedule later this year. The discussion has gained attention due to a potential clash between the Asian Games, scheduled to be held from September 19 to October 4, and the home T20I series against the West Indies starting on October 6.
While the idea of fielding a separate team, possibly including IPL debutants, has been mooted, Ashwin has made it clear that he is against such a move.
ASHWIN QUESTIONS VALUE INDIA CAP
Ashwin emphasized that representing India should remain a special achievement and not something that is easily given away.
“So what is the value of an Indian cap? What respect will it command?” he said. “You need a moment of pride to wear the Indian cap. You represent so many people and everyone watches Indian cricket.”
He added that frequent debuts in multiple teams risked reducing that sense of opportunity. “It often happens now that people debut somewhere else and people forget about it,” he said.
Ashwin suggested that if the aim is to give exposure to young players, a tour of India A would be a better option. “Caps to India have to have some value. If you want to give them exposure, send them on a tour of India A. You can’t just distribute caps to India for free. That has to be appreciated,” he added.
The debate is not entirely new. India adopted a similar approach during the 2023 Asian Gameswhen the second-tier men’s T20 team was sent out due to a scheduled clash with the ODI World Cup at home.
On that occasion, Ruturaj Gaikwad led a largely inexperienced side that featured standout players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh. The squad also included fringe players like Washington Sundar and Rahul Tripathi.
While the move was seen as a practical solution to the busy calendar, it also sparked debate about the importance of representing India at a higher level, a concern Ashwin has now echoed.
BUSY PROGRAM AND CALL SELECTION
India is set for a busy post-IPL calendar, with a heavy dose of T20 cricket despite preparations for the ODI World Cup 2027. The team will begin with a one-off Test and three ODIs against Afghanistan from June 6-20.
They will then travel to Ireland for two T20Is from June 26-28, a series that could see opportunities for debutants. According to an Indian Express report, this is likely Vaibhav Sooryavanshi might make his India debut during this tour.
The report added that a predominantly second-string side is expected to be selected for the Ireland series, with selectors looking to give exposure to players who have impressed recently.
India will then tour England in July for a five-T20I and three-match ODI series, followed by a short trip to Zimbabwe for three T20Is later that month.
The scheduling challenge becomes more apparent in October when India host the West Indies for five T20Is shortly after the Asian Games. The year will close with a home series against Sri Lanka that will consist of three ODIs and three T20Is in December.
With such a busy schedule and increasing calls for squad rotation, the debate over workload management is set to continue, but Ashwin has made it clear that the prestige of the India cap should not be compromised.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
21 Apr 2026 17:44 IST
