Off-spinner Ravi Ashwin gets World Cup call-up, replaces injured Axar Patel

Ravi Ashwin will be replacing Axar Patel in India's squad for ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

Team India have made a late change in their 15-members squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been included in the squad to replace injured spin all-rounder Axar Patel. Axar Patel got injured while playing against Bangladesh in the super 4 round of Asia Cup. Axar Patel had also missed the 3-match ODI series against Australia. Ravi Ashwin will be taking his place in the 15-members squad that was announced earlier on September 5.

Ravi Ashwin gets his World Cup ticket

Veteran off-spinner Ravi Ashwin will be playing in his third 50-overs World Cup. He played the first two ODI games against Australia in Mohali and Indore. Ashwin picked up four wickets in the series. He bowled a magnificent spell in Indore to pick up 3 wickets in just a span of 7 balls to make himself the first-choice replacement for injured Axar Patel. Ashwin’s selection against Australia gave a clear signal about team India’s strategy to bring him in as Axar’s replacement.

Washington Sundar was asked to join Indian camp in Asia Cup 2023 finals when Axar suffered multiple niggles against Bangladesh. But for the mega event in India, management preferred to go with the experience of Ashwin. Off-spinner Ravi Ashwin has accompanied Indian squad and travelled to Guwahati to confirm the latest developments about Indian team. Team India will be playing their opening warm-up game against England at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on September 30th.

Ravi Ashwin will also bring variety to Indian team, as earlier they were going with left-arm spinners in the team. When team India announced on September 5, they selected two spin all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. Along with these two, Kuldeep Yadav was the lone frontline spinner. Ashwin’s selection will bring variety to the spin attack. Team India can also think of going in with all three available spinners on tricky wickets.

This will be Ashwin’s third 50-overs World Cup event, he has played 10 World Cup games in his ODI career and picked up 17 wickets. In India’s 2011 winning campaign, Ashwin played two games against West Indies in the league round and against Australia in the quarter-finals round. Team India will play against Australia at Chepauk Stadium in their campaign opener on October 8th. Team India will be looking to end their 10-years wait for an ICC title in the upcoming mega event. Team India have won the World Cup twice in its history (1983,2011).