(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] The India chief selector Ajit Agarkar, in the presence of captain Rohit Sharma, announced the squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia during a virtual press conference on Monday evening.
KL Rahul will lead the team in the first two ODIs, while Rohit, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav, who have been given rest, will join the contingent ahead of the third and final ODI to be played in Rajkot on September 27.
Surprisingly, Ravichandran Ashwin has been included in the squad.
Notably, Indian selectors initially omitted the off-spinner from the provisional 15-member squad for the ODI World Cup 2023. However, they are now contemplating adding either Ashwin or Washington Sundar to the squad for the marquee event as Axar Patel’s fitness might rule him out.
Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh has criticized the move to bring back Ashwin in the ODI set-up.
“First Washington Sundar, who wasn’t in the original Asia Cup squad, was called there. After that, a second player has been added for this series and that is R Ashwin. So somewhere or the other Team India are searching for off-spinners. They have probably realized their mistake that they haven’t picked an off-spinner in the team and that our bowlers can get into trouble if a lot of left-handers come in front of them,” said Harbhajan on his own YouTube channel.
“Why unnecessarily go through all this? It is beyond my understanding or they are going to make another mistake to rectify their earlier mistake?” the 43-year-old added.
Harbhajan also mentioned that Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav are the only two spinners, who will definitely play, and no one can take their place.
“You will never pick three spinners in the team. You will choose two at the most. Ravindra Jadeja is definitely going to play, no matter how many left-handers are there in front of you, and the other spinner will be Kuldeep Yadav. No one can take his place as of now. Two off-spinners have been kept because you have time till 28th September. You will once again want to see both these players, R Ashwin and Washington Sundar, that what they can do in this format. It is clear or else you wouldn’t have kept two off-spinners in the team. It’s possible that if either of them gives an extraordinary performance, he can get a place in Team India’s squad for the World Cup,” Harbhajan concluded.
Ashwin last played an ODI in January 2022 against South Africa, while Sundar’s most recent ODI appearance was in the Asia Cup 2023 final versus Sri Lanka, during which he didn’t have the opportunity to bat or bowl.