Despite the fact that R Ashwin last played an ODI match in January 2022, India head coach Rahul Dravid has said that he had kept Ashwin in his plans along all the time.
Ashwin has made a sort of surprising, yet expected, comeback in the ODI setup with just two weeks to go for the World Cup 2023. He was named in the squad to face Australia in the 3-ODI series, along with Washington Sundar. If he performs well, he could be drafted into India’s squad for the World Cup 2023.
Having someone of R Ashwin’s experience to come back is always good for us: Rahul Dravid
The fact that India’s provisional World Cup squad doesn’t have an off-spinner, that both Ashwin and Sundar are decent batters, and that the tournament is happening in India, all makes up for the recipe for either Ashwin or Sundar to come into the World Cup squad either in place of Axar Patel or Suryakumar Yadav.
On the eve of the first ODI vs Australia in Mohali, Rahul Dravid said that Ashwin’s vast experience makes up for the lack of ODI matches in recent times – Ashwin has played in only 2 ODIs since 2018.
Dravid said: “Having someone of Ashwin’s experience to come back is always good for us. Ashwin provides you that experience, that ability to be able to also contribute with the bat at No.8 and is someone that we always thought of in case there were certain injuries or certain opportunities opened up.”
“He was definitely someone who was always a part of our plans. I know he hasn’t played a lot of one-day cricket over the last bit, but someone of his experience probably can deal with that really well.”
After R Ashwin was named in the Australia ODI squad, India captain Rohit Sharma said he had regularly been on the phone call with the off-spinner.
“As a spinner-all-rounder, Ashwin is in the line. I have been talking to him on the phone,” Rohit said.
With Axar not fit for the 1st ODI in Mohali, and Hardik Pandya rested, R Ashwin is set to make his ODI comeback.
