Page 57 - The Indian EYE 092923

SPORTS SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 | The Indian Eye 57

For the love of game:

R Ashwin makes a comeback

for World Cup

Ashwin barely has featured in the 50-over format, in the past six years he has

featured in two ODI games for the Indian team

OUR BUREAU
Mumbai
he door to India’s World Cup squad opened
for Ravichandran Ashwin after Axar Patel
Tsustained an injury in the recently conclud-
ed Asia Cup. The experienced spinner along with
Washington Sundar was added to the squad to pro-
vide the ‘Men In Blue’ with further options and va-
riety ahead of the World Cup.

The Indian spinner has expressed his love

for Indian cricket and is looking to bring
something new to the team. “It’s a great
opportunity for me, I want to bring some-
thing different to the table something dif-

ferent from my perspective, I have been
working on some different angles because
one day cricket isn’t about spin anymore
it’s not about the angle of spin or any- Ravichandran Ashwin and skipper KL Rahul celebrate the dismissal of Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne during the 1st ODI

thing,” Ashwin said to BCCI. match at Inderjit Singh Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Friday (ANI)

He went on to express his love for Indian that,” said the coach. for the last year or so. Yes, he hasn’t played in this
cricket and asserted that he would be happy to Indian skipper Rohit Sharma feels Ashwin’s [ODI] format, but he played Test cricket recent-
contribute in any way. lack of game time won’t be a concern for him in ly in the West Indies, and if I’m not wrong, in the
“Indian cricket is very close to my heart. I am their upcoming three-match ODI series against TNPL as well. Of course, there’s no comparison
not a man of tattoos but the tattoo is well inside Australia. Ashwin barely has featured in the 50- but he has had some cricket there. The games
my heart. Whatever it is I am going to be with or over format, in the past six years he has featured in against Australia will give us a chance to look at
not with the team, I will be playing with good vibes two ODI games for the Indian team. where he’s at,” Rohit added.
and watching with close vibes and if at all I get a Rohit feels that Ashwin’s lack of game time The other concern for the Indian team has
chance to contribute I would be more than happy in the format won’t be a concern as he has been been Shreyas Iyer. The right-handed batter missed
with that,” Ashwin added. representing the nation in the Test format. out the final couple of games for ‘The Blues’ in the
Head coach Rahul Dravid on Thursday clari- “With guys like Ashwin, game-time and time Asia Cup due to back spasms.
fied that the spinner was always in the plans after on the ground is not so much of a concern. Which India’s Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar shed some
Ashwin returned to the ODI set-up after a year, is why we thought if he is an option for us, we need light on Iyer’s injury and said that the batter at the
“Having someone of Ashwin’s experience is al- to get him in. With the kind of experience he has, moment is fit.
ways good for us. He gives you experience, the for guys like him, it’s all in the head more than “He has not picked up a stress fracture at the
ability to contribute with the bat at number eight. the body. I thought getting him in could give is a moment he is fit and that is why we have picked
He is someone we taught about in case of an injury chance to understand where he is at, how his body him he has worked incredibly hard for the past few
or an opportunity opened up. He was always in our is and stuff like that,” Rohit said in a press confer- months, he will have to go through these games
plans. He has not played much ODI cricket for a ence. he did pick up a niggle, at the moment he is fine,”
while, but someone of his experience can deal with “It’s not like he has not been playing cricket Agarkar said.

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