India has performed mixed in the series against West Indies, which does not seem to strengthen the faith in the prospects of the team. Many former cricketers including team coach Rahul Dravid have said that there is a lack of balance in the Indian team and sometimes the last 3-4 batsmen seem to be lax in batting. One of the many weaknesses of the team is that the last order players in the batting order have not been able to contribute even with the bat.
If the team needs such bowlers who can also bat, then the selectors will surely discuss one name and that is Ravichandran Ashwin. The question is whether the all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, who also has a century in Tests, has become essential for the ODI team? There is still a few months left for the World Cup to begin, so there is uncertainty about Ravichandran Ashwin's presence in the team.
Remember the 2011 World Cup which was played in India and which was won by Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team. The scene of Dhoni winning the World Cup by hitting sixes is still fresh, but no less important than that is Ashwin starting Indian bowling in many matches with the new white ball.
Ashwin is once again in the news spotlight – his recent performances, comments made on him and views of former players and selectors have fueled the ongoing debate about his inclusion in limited overs formats as well.
Often touted for his prowess in Test cricket, Ashwin has expressed his desire to contribute to India's World Cup campaign, but also admitted that selection is not in his hands. In a recent interview to The Times of India, he said, "I had decided long back that I don't want to think about things that are not in my hands."
"I don't have any unfinished business, but yes, I want to see India win the World Cup one more time, whether I am in the team or not."
The off-spinner, who has consistently proved his mettle in domestic and international cricket, has found himself on the sidelines more times than expected in recent times. In the last decade and a half of his career, Ashwin has been suddenly dropped from the team many times and only one reason is given for it – someone else was selected in his place to balance the team.
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In June this year, when he was not played in the final of the Test Championship, many experts were surprised. Against the same opposition team Australia, he showed a series-winning game in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy a few months back and now he has no place in England?
Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly remarked, "Over the years four pacers have led India to many victories on foreign soil. But every captain thinks differently – Rohit has a different thought, I think differently. If I were the captain, I would have had a lot of trouble keeping a spinner like Ashwin out of the team.
Looking at the bowling of Nathan Lyon in the same match, he said, 'Who says off-spinners can't take wickets on green wickets?' Talking about who is competing in Ashwin's team, the spotlight falls on Ravindra Jadeja.
All-rounder Jadeja has consistently performed well in all formats and if we talk about the World Cup team, he has already confirmed his place.
Jadeja's all-round skills strengthen the Indian team. He is an excellent fielder, a reliable middle-order batsman and a powerful wicket-taker spinner – these are the reasons why he is included in the team.
But Ashwin's competition is not with Jadeja but with the second and third spinners of the team. Can he prove to be a better option than Akshar Patel in ODIs because Patel plays like Jadeja in a way and can be his option. Washington Sundar is finding it difficult to be in the World Cup team because he has been included in the Asian Games team and after that there is very little gap in the World Cup matches.
On the other hand, can he come in place of any one of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav because he bats better than both of them and by choosing them the tail of the team can be shortened. The other specialty with Ashwin is that he can also start bowling in the match.
In the World Cup being played in India, three spinners can be played on almost all the pitches except Dharamshala and one of them can be Ashwin. The Indian team management and selectors are tight-lipped about their plans.
After a few days, the Indian team's camp will be held at the NCA in Bengaluru and it is here that the final decision on some players can be taken. It is believed that the new chief selector of BCCI, Ajit Agarkar, considers Ashwin's place in the team important.
However, World Cup squad selection is always a challenging task and the challenge lies in finding the right mix of experience and young talent. Whether Ashwin will be in the team or not will depend on the selectors' views on his form, fitness and balance of the team.
On one hand, while the selectors are considering the final composition of the team, on the other hand, fans and many former cricketers are advocating for Ashwin to be taken.
Former BCCI chief selector SSK Prasad is also advocating for Ashwin these days. In a statement given to Star Sports TV, he said that the team will need Ashwin in the conditions of Asia.
He said, “He is a bowler who can be successful against left-handed batsmen. He will be needed against Australia, against Sri Lanka he can be fatal. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has not yet issued any official statement regarding Ashwin's exclusion.
Recently, Ashwin has come second in the list of Indian bowlers taking the most wickets by taking 15 wickets in 2 Test matches in the West Indies.
He has also come at number one in the ICC Test rankings. But he played his last ODI match on 21 January 2022 and if he is to be selected in this format, then he must be in the Asia Cup team before the World Cup.
As far as Ashwin is concerned, his thinking is clear and he is not focusing on things over which he has no control. Ashwin has said that he is only concentrating on the series against South Africa to be held in December.
But if Ashwin, an engineer by education and playing the role of a philosopher in the team, is suddenly called for the ODI World Cup, then one thing is certain – there will be no shortage in his preparation.
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