Australia call up DUPLICATE Ravichandran Ashwin for World Cup preparations, but he declines

Mahesh Pithiya has decided to focus on the upcoming domestic season with Baroda.

Australia call up DUPLICATE Ravichandran Ashwin for World Cup preparations, but he declines

Mahesh Pithiya meets R. Ashwin (Image via Instagram)

When Australia toured India for the 2023 Border Gavaskar Trophy, the batters needed to find a way to counter Indian spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin. They formed their own spinning pitch back home and Marnus Labuschagne made his own pitch back at home to learn how to deal with the unpredictable Indian pitches. 

The Australian team management then thought they found a solution by bringing in 21-year-old Mahesh Pithiya. The off-spinner hailing from Baroda had a bowling action that was really close to India’s frontline spinner, Ashwin. He had played four first class before joining the Australians as a net bowler. 

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Now with the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup just a few days away, Australia called up Pithiya to join them once again. They called him up as soon as Ravichandran Ashwin was announced as the replacement for Axar Patel.

Talking to SportStar, Pithiya was quite interested in joining them but after consulting with his coaches he declined the offer. He was informed that he was a part of the set up of the Baroda Cricket team and his main focus was always to perform in domestics. 

Related: Australia preparing for India Tests in the presence of a Ravichandran Ashwin duplicate

2023/24 Indian domestic season kicks of with Irani Cup

The 2023/24 Indian Domestic Season starts on 1st October as Ranji Champions, Saurashtra, face off Rest of India in a one-off 5 day first class match. After that, 38 teams will compete in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Tournament (T20), Vijay Hazare Trophy (List A) and the crown jewel of all domestic competitions, the Ranji Trophy. 

Saurashtra Cricket Team
Saurashtra won their 2nd Ranji Trophy title in 2022/23.

Saurashtra won their 2nd Ranji Trophy in 2023, under the captaincy of Jaydev Unadkat. They had beat Bengal in the finals. They also won the 2022/23 Vijay Hazare Trophy against Maharashtra, which was led by CSK Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad. Mumbai won their first Syed Mushtaq Ali Tournament last season, after beating Himachal Pradesh. 

BCCI also hosts List A and T20 tournaments for women, while they host the Cooch Behar Trophy, Vijay Merchant Trophy, Vinoo Mankad Trophy and the Col. C.K. Nayudu trophy for youth cricketers.

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