World Cup 2023 – R Ashwin more likely to change Axar Patel in India’s World Cup squad

Offspinner R Ashwin has changed left-arm spinner Axar Patel in India’s remaining 15 for the 2023 World Cup*. ESPNcricinfo has realized that Axar, who left the Asia Cup with a quadriceps pressure, wants not less than three extra weeks to recuperate totally.

At present is the deadline for groups to make adjustments – no questions requested – to their World Cup squads, as per the ICC’s rules. From tomorrow, any additional adjustments will want the consent of the World Cup’s technical committee.

This implies Ashwin joins Virat Kohli as one in all solely two gamers on this squad who additionally featured in India’s 2011 World Cup profitable run.

Ashwin’s inclusion has come as a shock, with issues altering rapidly. He was not a part of the 15-man squad introduced by the BCCI in late August. On the time, India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar identified that whereas Ashwin was one of many contenders, the selectors and the workforce administration had opted for Axar, whom they felt offered batting depth. Within the Asia Cup, when Axar bought injured and returned to the Nationwide Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, the BCCI drafted Washington Sundar as his alternative.

Each Washington and Ashwin had been included three-match ODI sequence in opposition to Australia that adopted, which India received 2-1. That sequence was the primary time Ashwin, 37, had performed for India in ODIs in 18 months.He performed the primary two of these Australia video games, taking 1 for 47 and three for 41, earlier than being rested for the third ODI in Rajkot the place Washington changed him.

Rahul Dravid, India’s head coach, had stated at a media briefing on Wednesday, after the third ODI, that “there have been no adjustments” to the World Cup squad. Dravid stated that Agarkar had been in contact with the NCA on Axar’s rehab. Nonetheless, following the most recent replace on Axar, Ashwin has been slotted in, and Washington will fly to China on Friday to affix India’s squad for the Asian Video games.

Ashwin is the one specialist offspinner in India’s World Cup squad, and brings with him the expertise of 115 ODIs (155 wickets, financial system charge 4.94). He had made his ODI debut a 12 months earlier than the 2011 World Cup, and was a part of India’s profitable marketing campaign with 4 wickets in two video games. He additionally performed the 2015 World Cup in Australia, the place he took 13 wickets in eight matches. He was not a part of India’s 2019 World Cup squad in England.

India captain Rohit Sharma had stated on the eve of the third ODI in opposition to Australia that every one this expertise labored in Ashwin’s favour. “Ashwin has bought the category, he is bought expertise of enjoying the game and dealing with the stress. It is simply that he hasn’t performed ODIs [for] a 12 months or so. However you can not take away the category and the expertise that the person has through the years, and within the final couple of video games [against Australia], we noticed how effectively he bowled. He is bought quite a lot of variations up his sleeves.”

India’s up to date World Cup squad

Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (vice-capt), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj

*Sep 28, 2023 14.20 GMT The story was up to date after the ICC affirmation.