Ravichandran Ashwin the veteran spinner has been added to India’s final 15-man squad for the ODI World Cup as a replacement for Injured all-rounder Axar Patel. In the just concluded Asia Cup Axar Patel was injured while batting against Bangladesh and couldn’t take part in the final of the Asia Cup and the 3-match ODI series against Australia. Ashwin was picked for the Australian series as Axar’s replacement, and the experienced pro did not disappoint and picked up 3 crucial wickets for 41 runs in Indore to mark his ODI return after a long time.

Hours before the deadline of September 28, India drafted Ashwin in the World Cup squad as a last-minute change. He was a natural replacement for Axar, who has yet to recover from a left quadriceps strain and will be out of action for a minimum 3 weeks. The selectors have a choice between the experienced Ashwin and the promising Washington Sundar, but Ashwin brings a lot of experience in playing big tournaments that’s the reason the selectors have opted for him instead of Sundar.

The development was confirmed when Ashwin landed in Guwahati along with the Indian team for the warm-up game against England, while Axar did not travel for obvious reasons. In an official statement, the ICC announced the inclusion of Ashwin in the Indian squad in place of Axar. The BCCI was playing the waiting game, hoping for positive news but unfortunately, Axar’s injury was serious in nature and it will take time to recover so it will not be a wise decision to keep him in the squad. With Ashwin’s inclusion, team India has an off-spinner as well, apart from a China-man in Kuldeep Yadav and a left-arm spinner in Jadeja. On paper, the spin department is looking very experienced, and not to forget Ashwin’s batting as well, he has played very crucial knocks for India in the recent past.

It has become evident that Ashwin’s return was imminent over the last month or so, as chief selector Ajit Agarkar and Captain Rohit Sharma kept answering questions about him. Agarkar said in August that the team went ahead with Axar because of the batting depth India is looking forward to the World Cup. The off-spinner has always been highly regarded by Rohit Sharma, and he even told reporters that he is in constant touch with Ashwin.

This will be Ashwin’s third World Cup appearance and second at home. His first World Cup appearance was in 2011, which India won after 28 years and his second was in 2015 held in Australia. However, after the World Cup in Australia, the leadership duo of captain Virat Kohli and Coach Ravi Shastri wanted more wrist-spinning options and opted for wrist spin duo of  Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, thus making Ashwin the third-choice spinner, as a result, he did not play the 2019 World Cup held in England.

With Ashwin’s inclusion in the squad, Virat Kohli and Ashwin are the only players who were part of the victorious campaign in 2011 and will represent in the 2023 World Cup as well. As this World Cup is also played in Indian soil like in 2011, can Ashwin and Virat make it 2 World Cup titles in their name.

Let’s wait for the World Cup to begin and hope India repeats the Wankhede at Ahmedabad on November 19.