Ravichandran Ashwin’s presence has dominated the
narrative of the India vs. Australia one-day international series. When the
series between India and Australia gets underway on Friday, the off-spinner
will likely play his first ODI since 2022. The final practise run before the
Cricket World Cup is being seen as the India vs. Australia one-day
international cricket series. The ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 begins on October
5, while Indian cricket’s inaugural match is on October 8. The Cricket World
Cup’s eagerly anticipated India vs. Pakistan game will take place on October
14. But Ravichandran Ashwin will be the subject of attention much earlier.
Amit Mishra, a renowned spinner for India, had an
intriguing insight regarding Ravichandran Ashwin’s absence from ODIs for a
while.
“Ravichandran Ashwin is undoubtedly a quality
bowler and a wicket-taker, but remember this is not a 20-over game. It is of 50
overs. You have to bowl for 10 overs and field for 40 overs and might have to
bat as well. No doubt he has been around for so long, has been a wicket-taker
as well, but there is that matter of fielding as well and that is why a young
player might be picked,” Amit Mishra was quoted as saying by Hindustan
Times.
“The only reason he has been picked is because if
a spinner gets injured, then the team needs to have a wicket-taking option,
which Ashwin brings. Ashwin has got an edge as an off-spin option, as India
already has two left-arm spinners and a wrist-spinner in Kuldeep Yadav,”
“Indian team will be looking at how Ashwin will
be bowling against Australia, and to assess if he still has the wicket-taking
abilities in this format. The only reason why he is not in the team is because
of his fielding and right-handed batting ability.
Jadeja and Axar are both lefties. Washington is a
young player and has shown wicket-taking abilities apart from being a batting
option. Plus, he provides an advantage with his fielding, something which holds
importance in ODIs,” he added.