(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] India’s Ravichandran Ashwin made a surprise entry into the ODI set-up after the selection panel led by Ajit Agarkar chose the veteran spinner based on his experience for the three-match series versus Australia, just before the World Cup 2023.
Ashwin had last played ODI cricket 20 months ago and was nowhere close to donning the blue jersey, but the out-of-the-box selection by the selectors left everyone shocked.
A section of Indian fans and pundits questioned the selection of Ashwin and were a left little confused, thinking why the selectors didn’t choose him for the Asia Cup 2023 final in the first place when Axar Patel picked up an injury and Washington Sundar was added to the team in his place
Dinesh Karthik explained the reason on Cricbuzz behind the selection of Sundar over Ashwin in the recently-concluded Asia Cup final.
As per Karthik, Ashwin was asked to join the team in Colombo but the bowler himself decline as he believed he was not match ready then.
“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,” said Karthik.
“Then, Ashwin played a couple of local club matches, and then, 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,” he added
In the first ODI against Australia at Mohali, Ashwin bowled 10 overs, conceding 47 runs with an economy rate of 4.7 and and took the crucial wicket of Marnus Labuschagne.