As puzzling as it may sound, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar can still make it to the World Cup 2023 squad. At least that’s what India captain Rohit Sharma and chairman of BCCI Selection Committee Ajit Agarkar want everyone to believe. All three missed the India squad for Asia Cup 2023.
“Doors are not closed for anyone including Ravi Ashwin, Chahal and Sundar for the World Cup 2023,” Rohit Sharma said on Monday after the squad announcement for Asia Cup 2023.
While Washington Sundar was never in contention following his injury layoff, missing out on Ravichandran Ashwin on Indian pitches for World Cup 2023 could be a great deal. Asia Cup 2023 was where Ashwin could make a return to the ODI side after nearly 18 months.
Why no off-spinner in Asia Cup 2023?
However, Rohit Sharma chose Axar Patel for his batting over Ashwin or Chahal. Despite his red-ball performances with the bat, Ashwin has not had a good run with the bat in white-ball cricket. As Asia Cup 2023 squad is a good indication of World Cup 2023 squad, it’s likely that Ashwin will miss the bus.
“We had a deep discussion about an off-spinner and a leg-spinner as well. But see, things boil down to batting options at No 8 and 9. We wanted someone who can bat there. Axar had a good run this year, did well in white-ball cricket… With him being there, it allows us that option of firstly having that left-hander who can go up and play the spinners and then he creates for us that batting depth. We talked about Ashwin and Washington as well. As you saw, even Chahal missed out because we can only get 17 players in,” Rohit Sharma further clarified.
Ajit Agarkar was more open on the Kul-Cha competition. He admitted that Kuldeep Yadav was ahead of Yuzvendra Chahal in terms of pecking order.
“Axar Patel has done really well. He can bat too. Kuldeep Yadav has had a fantastic run to this point. So someone had to miss out. Kuldeep is currently a little ahead of him (Chahal),” said Agarkar in the press conference.
Hence, for the first time, India will play any big tournament without a specialist off-spinner, especially in World Cup 2023. Tilak Varma will be the only part-time off-spinner in the squad. Whether he gets a place in the Playing XI is another discussion.
Ravichandran Ashwin last played for India in the ODIs on the South Africa tour in 2021-22. He could only manage a wicket in two matches, going for 6.05. Yuzvendra Chahal last played an ODI back in January against New Zealand. He bagged two wickets for 43 runs in the only match. Sundar also played his last ODI against New Zealand, going for 6.62 in the three matches for 2 wickets.
India Squad for Asia Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.
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