ICC World Cup 2023: Ravichandran Ashwin In Contention For The World Cup - Reports

Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin could well be a surprise addition to the Indian squad for the ICC World Cup 2023. A recent report in Indian Express has popped up red flags in the pool of the players that Men in Blue are targeting for the showpiece event and therefore selectors are keen to bring in off-spinner.

Ravindra Jadeja along with Axar Patel are two finger spinners that currently are part of the team and are in contention to make it into the World Cup squad. But both of them bringing the same variety is something that is bothering the management. Therefore veteran of 113 ODIs Ravichandran Ashwin’s name is being discussed.

Ravichandran Ashwin hasn’t played a single ODI game in almost the last two years. He isn’t part of the upcoming three-match ODI series against West Indies, where the culling of players for the World Cup will begin. But his ability to bowl even with the new ball is likely to work in his favour and if he gets selected it means Axar Patel might have to face a heartbreak.

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The reports have suggested that the final call will depend on the balance the team management wants but they are keen to bring one off-spinner in the team. Washington Sundar being part of the Asian Games squad rules him out of the World Cup squad and Ravichandran Ashwin emerges as the prime candidate.

India will be playing a maximum of 12 ODIs before the World Cup. The off-spinner might be a necessity for them, considering the spin-friendly venues they will be playing their matches at. The glimpse of their squad and playing 11 could be well in the fray during the Asia Cup 2023, slated to take place from 30th August to 17th September. The Rohit Sharma-led outfit is likely to field the same team in the continental event which might take the stage in World Cup.

So far there is no sign of Ravichandran Ashwin in the ODI setup but the newly appointed chief selector is currently in the Caribbean to discuss the roadmap of the team for the World Cup. India after the West Indies ODIs will play Asia Cup and if Ravichandran Ashwin makes it into the team for the tournament it might well be a confirmation of his selection for the World Cup.

The final call related to the Indian squad for the World Cup will be taken after the West Indies series. Apart from the spin department, pace battery will be another major concern for the management. If they want to have four seamers in the final 15 then they might end up picking three spinners and can even sacrifice an extra batter, which most likely will be Sanju Samson or Suryakumar Yadav.

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ICC World Cup 2023: India’s schedule for the ICC World Cup 2023

Here’s India’s schedule for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

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