Has Ravichandran Ashwin retired from white-ball cricket? No, he hasn’t. Have the selectors spoken to him about Asia Cup 2023 or World Cup 2023? No, they haven’t. But selectors have fixed their eyes on a potential replacement. Despite a string of injuries, Washington Sundar could be a possible option if selectors do not pick Ashwin. But to remind all, he is in Asian Games 2023 squad.
However, BCCI can withdraw him from Asian Games squad for World Cup 2023. But the problem is his injuries and with the emergence of wrist-spinners in white-ball cricket, off-spinners have not been in demand in the shorter formats, especially ODIs.
“Washi is an interesting case. He has all the potential. He has done well in the opportunities. He is definitely one as a long-term Ashwin replacement in all formats. But he is too injury prone. Ireland series is an opportunity for him to get back in the mix. But whether selectors and the team management want an off-spinner is completely up to them,” a BCCI official told InsideSport.
No off-spinner in World Cup 2023?
Selectors have not been keen on adding a specialist off-spinner in 50-over squads. That is why Ashwin is missing ODIs. However, Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar could add that flair. Both are batters first and off-spinners later. To make it even more interesting, both are left-handers.
If Tilak Varma gets the nod, he will be in the squad without playing any ODIs. But Sundar has played all three formats internationally. In fact, he has been India’s go-to offie in limited-overs cricket only for his injuries to derail the plans.
In the 2011 World Cup in the sub-continent, off-spinners dominated white-ball cricket. In the 2011 final, 6 finger-spinners bowled 44 overs. Since then, there has been a steady decline and the focus has been on wrist spinners. In 2019 WC, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal formed a wrist-spin duo.
Washington Sundar vs Tilak Varma?
So, is there a scope for either Washington Sundar or Tilak Varma in Asia Cup or World Cup 2023 squads? To note both are in Asian Games 2023 squad. But one can be pulled out of the Asian Games squad for World Cup 2023. The start of WC will clash with Hangzhou Asiad.
Washington Sundar Bowling stats
| Format | Mat | Wkts | Best | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 4 | 6 | 3/89 | 3.41 |
| ODI | 16 | 16 | 3/30 | 5.05 |
| T20I | 35 | 29 | 3/22 | 7.22 |
What selectors now want is someone like Yuvraj Singh who can bat and bowl India to win. While Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel could be the one, they are not top-order or middle-order batters. Instead, Tilak Varma can perform the role.
For Washington Sundar, he can be the off-spin bowling option to break left-handers. And he can bat in the lower order as well, providing batting depth. That there is no specialist role in white ball cricket anymore has been proven by both Australia and England, the two World Champions in four World Cups since 2011.
“Again, team combination is something completely up to selectors. The first two T20s against Ireland will help us understand who is where,” the official added.
