On Day 1 of the 2nd Test between India and Australia at the Adelaide Oval, one aspect from the Indian bowling strategy garnered immense attention from the followers of cricket and that is Ravichandran Ashwin bowling just one over throughout India's bowling on Day 1. As one of the senior spinners playing for India, his not being given much to play which has raised a few concerns. Why would India's captain subject Ashwin to such a miniscule role in a Test match against the mighty Aussies? Here are three significant reasons why Ashwin only bowled one over on Day 1. 3 Reasons Why Ashwin Only Bowled One Over on Day 1. The Adelaide Oval's Pace-Friendly Conditions Adelaide Oval is famous for the pace and bounce it provides. It was never an easy ground for a spinner. The pitch, as a rule, helps fast bowlers more and the captains tend to send them in early in a match. On Day 1, India's pace bowlers were given the ball early and they made most of the conditions, with Jasprit Bumrah drawing the first blood by dismissing Usman Khawaja. Given these conditions, Ashwin's services were not required immediately as the fast bowlers had the advantage and were likely to pick up wickets with the pink ball. Also Read | Watch: Mohammed Siraj Does ‘Unthinkable’ When Marnus Labuschagne Pulls Out From Batting Pink Ball's Swing Advantage Another critical factor is that of the nature of the pink ball, which is used in day-night Tests. The pink ball swings more than the regular red ball, especially during the twilight hours. This makes it tougher for batters to settle, and swing bowling then becomes a major weapon in those conditions. Since the ball was moving around, it was fairly obvious that the Indian team wanted to maximize the use of their pacers - especially in the first few hours of play when the ball was expected to swing more. Plan to Negate Batters From Getting Settled When the ball is swinging and the pacers are in a flow, the most important thing is to keep the batters on the back foot, so that they are not allowed to settle. If Ashwin had bowled more than one over, it may have given the Australian batters time to settle into spin, thereby allowing them to possibly start attacking. Since the emphasis of the team was more on getting wickets off swing of the pink ball, Ashwin was kept in the back pocket as and when the conditions were such. It was a calculated decision to focus on the swing and pace first and bring Ashwin into the attack when the conditions would suit him better. Also Read | Watch: Reddy Hits Amazing Reverse Scoop Six Off Boland Conclusion Ravichandran Ashwin's limited involvement on Day 1 of the 2nd Test was a strategic move based on the conditions at the Adelaide Oval and the nature of the pink ball. The fast bowlers, helped by the swing of the ball, were given the first responsibility of knocking over the Australian batters early. Ashwin's role will certainly increase as the match advances, particularly when the pitch begins to wear down and conditions change. It was a smart move on the part of the Indian team to reserve Ashwin's services early in the game and then utilize him later when the effectiveness of the pacers may be lost.