T20 World Cup, India vs Afghanistan: Return Of Ravichandran Ashwin Was Biggest Positive, Says Virat Kohli

T20 World Cup, IND vs AFG: Ravichandran Ashwin was named in the playing XI for India during their Super 12 win against Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who had impressive figures of 2 for 14 on his white-ball comeback, was the best thing to have happened in India's comprehensive win against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup, captain Virat Kohli said on Wednesday. Ashwin, who was playing a white-ball game after four years, was one of the architects of India's 66-run win against Afghanistan which kept their slim chance of reaching the semifinals alive. "The return of Ash was the biggest positive, it was something he has worked really hard for," Kohli said at the post-match presentation when asked what was the biggest takeaway from the win.

"He (Ashwin) showed this control and rhythm in the IPL as well. He's a wicket-taker and a smart bowler as well."

Ashwin, who last played an international game in June in the World Test Championship, finally got a game after nearly four and half months. He was named in the playing XI after mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy developed a left calf issue. Kohli said the Sharjah pitch was a much better wicket than those of the earlier two matches and his batters were able to come up with free-flowing batting.

"Much better wicket as well, to be fair. In the other two games as well, if we just had two overs of that free-flowing batting capability, that could have sent the message to the opposition that we've put them under pressure.

"T20 is a very instinctive game, even in terms of decision-making. The top three is more or less set unless something like today happens, when the top two go on until over 14 or 15."