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In a strange move, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has made a comeback to the Indian ODI team for the upcoming three-match series against Australia.
The selection of Ashwin, who is not part of Team India’s World Cup team, has raised eyebrows and prompted questions about the reasons behind it.
One of the main reasons behind Ashwin’s inclusion in the Indian team is the uncertainty surrounding injured all-rounder Axar Patel’s fitness for the upcoming ICC World Cup. Ashwin will be competing with all-rounder Washington Sundar for a potential spot in the World Cup squad if Axar doesn’t recover in time.
Ashwin last played an ODI in January 2022 in South Africa. The veteran spinner’s selection for the World Cup remains contingent on Axar’s recovery.
On Ashwin’s inclusion in the Indian team, skipper Rohit Sharma said, “With R Ashwin, the game time is not important as he has played over 100 Test matches and 100 ODIs. He is a champion bowler who knows how to perform in different conditions. The game time is in the head, and it is the experience that matters in the end.”
Ashwin has so far played 113 ODI matches. He has claimed 151 ODI wickets with an average of 33.50 and an economy of 4.94.
