Dinesh Karthik Reveals Inside Information About Washington Sundar Being Picked For Asia Cup Final Over Ravichandran Ashwin

The veteran India National Cricket Team wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has revealed some inside information about spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar being picked over Ravichandran Ashwin for the Asia Cup 2023 final in Sri Lanka.

India were forced to make a major change to their ahead of the Asia Cup 2023 final when spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel sustained an injury during the last Super Four game of the continental tournament. Washington Sundar was called as a replacement for Axar and he walked straight into the playing XI for the summit clash.

With Axar still out with injury, India have retained Sundar for the Australia ODIs and have also selected the veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. The ongoing three-match ODI series between India and Australia will act as World Cup trials for Ashwin and Sundar.

They actually called up R Ashwin first at the Asia Cup final – Dinesh Karthik

Speaking on Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik came up with a piece of inside information, saying that the team management’s first choice for the Asia Cup final was Ashwin and they approached him first, but the off-spinner wasn’t match-ready.

“With a little inside information I know, I’ll end up defending Rohit, Ajit, and Rahul Dravid here. They actually called up R Ashwin first at the Asia Cup final. They had a conversation and Ashwin felt he wasn’t match ready yet. So, he said it’s better if I don’t come to this game, because Washington was playing. He was playing in local tournaments in Chennai and he was in NCA. So, they sent Sundar for that one game,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

“Then, Ashwin played a couple of local club matches, and then, they picked him. That was the whole conversation. Their first choice at that point as well was Ashwin. I understand Washington could’ve been misled a bit, but they choose Ashwin first.”

In his comeback game after staying out of the ODI setup for more than 20 months, Ashwin bowled a decent spell. In his 10-over quota against the Australia National Cricket Team at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh, he bagged the crucial wicket of Marnus Labuschagne and gave away 47 runs.