IND vs AUS: Not Ravichandran Ashwin Or Washington Sundar! Harbhajan Singh Picks Axar Patel's Replacement

Legendary India National Cricket Team off-spinner Harbhajan Singh recently snubbed Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar as he picked the replacement for injured Axar Patel in India’s ODI squad.

Axar Patel was ruled out of the Asia Cup 2023 final due to a left quadriceps strain. Washington Sundar replaced him in the squad and he also made it to India’s playing XI for the summit clash. It was during the Bangladesh clash that Axar suffered an injury, which had ruled him out of the final of the continental tournament.

Speaking to reporters after the Asia Cup 2023 final, Rohit Sharma revealed that the spin-bowling all-rounder will most likely miss the first two of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia.

Axar Patel has been named in India’s World Cup squad as a spin-bowling all-rounder alongside Ravindra Jadeja. In case, his injury turns out to be a severe one, India will have to find a replacement.

The top two contenders for the role are Washington Sundar and veteran Ravichandran Ashwin. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma had also revealed that he is in touch with Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar, the two players who are capable of fulfilling the spin-bowling all-rounder role in the Cricket World Cup 2023 squad.

I would like to bring Yuzvendra Chahal – Harbhajan Singh

However, the legendary India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has come up with an out-of-the-box suggestion to replace Axar, stating that the selectors should pick Yuzvendra Chahal in the squad. He added that the services of the veteran leg-spinner were missed during the Asia Cup, which India won in a dominant fashion.

“I would like to bring Yuzvendra Chahal instead of any other player. He is a proven player, a match winner. He was the one who was missed in the tournament,” he told Sports Today.

Harbhajan Singh also stated that the selection of Washington Sundar in India’s 15-man World Cup squad would have been better. He reasoned:

“I wish India had selected Sundar in the original 15 for the World Cup then we would have had another variation in the bowling department.”