In the ever-evolving world of cricket, some moments catch our attention, and one such moment recently was the return of star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to India’s ODI squad after a hiatus of nearly 20 months.
Ashwin’s return to the ODI side was quite the headline-grabber, especially with the impending World Cup just around the corner. The bilateral series against Australia was the perfect dress rehearsal for India’s opener in the marquee global tournament. The significance of this move was hard to miss, especially given the approaching deadline for final squad confirmation.
So, what led to Ashwin’s comeback in the first place? Well, it all traces back to an injury. All-rounder Axar Patel encountered an injury during the Asia Cup Super 4 match against Bangladesh, creating a gap in the squad. India’s initial choice was Washington Sundar, and he even found himself in the playing XI. Sundar had also been part of the squad for the Australia series, but what caught everyone’s attention was Ashwin’s inclusion in the first ODI against Australia in Mohali.
Dinesh Karthik, the star wicketkeeper-batter of Team India, finally unveiled the secret sauce behind this decision. According to Karthik, Ashwin was also the first choice for the Asia Cup final. The team management had reached out to Ashwin before Sundar, but Ashwin had declined the offer, citing that he wasn’t “match ready” at the time.
“With a little inside information I know, I’ll end up defending Rohit, Ajit, and Rahul Dravid here. They actually called up R Ashwin first at the Asia Cup final. They had a conversation and Ashwin felt he wasn’t match ready yet. So, he said it’s better if I don’t come to this game, because Washington was playing. He was playing in local tournaments in Chennai and he was in NCA. So, they sent Sundar for that one game,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
“Then, Ashwin played a couple of local club matches, and they picked him. That was the whole conversation. Their first choice at that point as well was Ashwin. I understand Washington could’ve been misled a bit, but they choose Ashwin first.” Karthik added.
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In a revealing interview with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Ashwin shared his perspective. He highlighted that the board kept him in the loop since the Test series against West Indies in August. Ashwin had returned home after the Test series while the rest of the team stayed in the Caribbean for ODIs and T20Is. During this time, Ashwin played in local club games, worked on his fitness, and kept himself prepared for any potential opportunity.
“I came back from the West Indies, took a break, played in a few club games. The team management kept me in the loop, whenever they said there could be chance. Stay ready, just in case. I was touching base with my fitness, started bowling a few sessions,” Ashwin said.
This inside scoop sheds light on the dynamics within the Indian cricketing setup. It’s a reminder that player readiness and choice are crucial factors in squad selection. While the debate surrounding Ashwin’s role in white-ball cricket continues, one thing’s for sure – his return adds a new layer of intrigue to India’s World Cup preparations.
