Ravichandran Ashwin returns to ODIs after 21 months, in contention for 2023 ODI World Cup

Washington Sundar and R. Ashwin in contention to play in the ODI World Cup if Axar Patel doesn't recover in time.

Ravichandran Ashwin returns to ODIs after 21 months, in contention for 2023 ODI World Cup

R. Ashwin last played a List A game in January 2022 (Image via ESPNcricinfo)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has announced the squad for the 3 match ODI series with Australia, The series starts on 22nd September and will finish on the 27th. India has rested many important players for the first 2 games but will return in the 3rd ODI. 

Captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya and Kuleep Yadav have been rested, while R. Ashwin and Washington return to the ODI squad. Due to Axar Patel’s injury, Washington and Ashwin have been included in the squad. Ruturaj Gaikwad also returns, while Sanju Samson misses out despite going to the 2023 Asia Cup as a reserve. Wicket-Keeper batsman KL Rahul will captain the Indian Team till Rohit returns in the 3rd ODI.

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India squad for the first two ODIs: 

  • Batsmen: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma
  • Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
  • Wicket-Keepers: KL Rahul (C), Ishan Kishan
  • All-Rounders: Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, R Ashwin

India squad for the third ODIs: 

  • Batsmen: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav
  • Bowler: Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj
  • Wicket-Keepers: KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan
  • All-Rounders: Hardik Pandya, (VC), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel*, Washington Sundar

Axar Patel’s inclusion in the series is subjected to his fitness. If he doesn’t recover in time, he could end up missing 2023 ODI World Cup.

Related: “Unnecessary to play ODI series,” Wasim Akram says India playing ODI series against Australia before the World Cup is risky 

Ravichandran Ashwin or Washington Sundar? Who goes to the World Cup if Axar Patel doesn’t recover in time? 

Although Axar Patel has been selected for the 3rd ODI against Australia, there is still doubt if he would recover in time for that match. He injured himself in India’s 2023 Asia Cup match with Bangladesh, where he injured his left quadriceps. 

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Washignton Sundar and R. Ashwin will compete against each other for a ticket to the 2023 ODI World Cup (Images via ESPN)

To replace him, Washington Sundar was called up to play in the 2023 Asia Cup Finals, which India won. But now with Ashwin also being selected for the Australia ODIs, either one of the two off-spinners could feature in the World Cup as long as Axar Patel doesn’t recover in time. Any changes India needs to make to their squad needs to be done by the final date of submission of squad, which is the 28th of September.. 

Ashwin hasn’t played a single ODI in over 21 months, last featuring in the ODI series against South Africa in January 2022. He did not participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy or Duleep Trophy since then as well. Rohit Sharma said Ashwin not being match fit isn’t a problem as well. Washington Sundar on the other hand has played in all List A matches for his state team, Tamil Nadu, and represented South Zone in the Duleep Trophy.

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