After successfully winning the Asia Cup, Team India’s next assignment is the three-match ODIs against Australia, starting from Friday. On Monday, skipper Rohit Sharma and BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced the squad for the upcoming series. All-rounder Ravichandran has received a surprise call-up as he is set to play his first ODI since January 2022. Ashwin, India’s highest Test wicket-taker among active cricketers, has been named in place of an injured Axar Patel and will look to make the most of the given opportunities.
The last date for submitting the final squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup is September 28 and Ashwin’s place in the team for the big event is still uncertain. However, former Sri Lanka captain Arjun Ranatunga, who led the team to a World Cup victory in 1996, stated that Ashwin’s inclusion in the team will strengthen India’s spin attack and will be a huge help to Kuldeep Yadav.
“I don’t know if India has two real spinners. They have good all-rounders, who happen to be spinners, but I don’t see any real spinner in this side. On Indian pitches, they need a strong group of spinners.” If not, it would be a disadvantage for India. Of course there is Kuldeep Yadav, he can be a match winner as he showed against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup,” Ranatunga told Indian Express.
“He is quite smart in my opinion, especially when it comes to using the variations. But you still need one who can support him and attack him, because teams will try to target him and cause unrest. Especially when you are against England or Australia are playing. South Africa, New Zealand, sometimes you may have to play against three spinners without affecting the balance of the team. And India doesn’t have a batsman who can bowl. Jadeja who bowls, bats at number 7,” added he added.
Ranatunga further said that to be “big favourites”, Team India needs a “balanced” all-round attack.
“Take Pakistan and England, they have good spinners. So that’s something I’m sure India will address before the World Cup. They are looking more at all-rounders like Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, but I personally feel they would should have someone like R Ashwin in the squad, if not in the XI. If he plays, he can be a match-winner for you,” he said.
“He may be a little older, he may be a little slow on the field, but you need guys in the subcontinent who can contain wickets and take wickets. Sides that want to win most matches do it by taking wickets and for that you have need a balanced all-round attack. If someone like Anil Kumble is in that side, I will tag him as a big favorite but they have a problem with their spinners,” he added.
The ODI series against Australia is the final dress rehearsal for hosts India before the 2023 Cricket World Cup, which starts on October 5.
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