Virat Kohli says no room for Ravichandran Ashwin in India's T20 plans

T20 series against England begins in Ahmedabad on Friday

India captain Virat Kohli tests out his football skills during a warm-up session ahead of the first T20 match against England that takes place on March 12, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. PA

Virat Kohli playing football with India teammates during training on March 8. AP

India's Virat Kohli warms-up with a football. PA

India's Shreyas Iyer, left and Shikhar Dhawan during training. AP

India batsman Rohit Sharma playing football at training. AP

India's Yuzvendra Chahal takes a fall. PA

India captain Virat Kohli, right with teammates. AP

India's Shreyas Iyer passes a football during training. AP

India's Virat Kohli takes a breather. AP

India captain Virat Kohli. PA

India's Rahul Tewatia, left, and Shreyas Iyer. AP

India's Virat Kohli goes for a jog during training. AP

India captain Virat Kohli arrives at training. AP

England's Jonny Bairstow arriving at training in Ahmedabad. AP

England's Jos Buttler, right along-with support staff arriving at training. AP

England's Sam Curran. AP

England batsman Jason Roy. AP

England fast-bowler Jofra Archer arrives for some batting practice. AP

England's Moeen Ali, center, arrives at training. AP

England captain Eoin Morgan gives the thumbs up. Getty

India captain Virat Kohli said there is no place for star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the T20 squad.

Ashwin, who last played for India in the shortest format in 2017, has been in top form, spinning India to a 3-1 triumph in the recent Test series against England.

He hit a century in India's second Test victory at Chennai and took his 400th Test wicket in the third Ahmedabad Test, the fastest to the mark by any Indian bowler in terms of matches.

Only three other Indian bowlers have taken more wickets than Ashwin in Test cricket, all of whom have retired.

The 34-year-old off-spinner had also taken 13 wickets from 15 games in last year's Indian Premier League, dismissing the likes of Kohli and Chris Gayle.

Speaking to reporters ahead of a five-match T20 series against England beginning Friday, Kohli said Ashwin could not be accommodated in the squad because Washington Sundar had already been performing well in the same role.

"Washington has been doing really well for us. You can't have two players of same discipline playing in one spot, unless Washington has a drastically horrible season and things go south for him.

"You suggest where you would add Ashwin and play him in the team when someone like Washington does that job for the team."

Sundar, 21, made his Test debut against Australia this year and impressed with the bat during the England series with unbeaten scores of 85 and 96.

The spinner has also made a mark for himself in the IPL since making his debut in 2017.

India are due to host the T20 World Cup in October-November.

Meanwhile, Eoin Morgan said England's Test captain Joe Root could be an option for the Twenty20 World Cup campaign this year.

Root was England's top scorer in the 2016 World Cup final when they lost to West Indies but has not played a Twenty20 International since May 2019.

The right-hander has found it increasingly difficult to break into England's explosive top-order but Morgan would not slam the door on Root yet.

"When we look back to the 2016 World Cup campaign that led to us going to the final, Joe was a huge part of that," Morgan said.

"Due to the schedule restrictions, Joe needs rest. It's a very huge amount of strain doing what he does being our very best batsman and also being test captain at the same time.

"Certainly Joe could be an option come the World Cup."