Ashwin is bowling well in the ongoing ODI series against Australia.
On his return to the ODI side after 21 months, the ace off-spinner returned with bowling figures of 1/47 (10 overs) in the first game against Australia in Mohali on Friday (September 22).
Ashwin continued his brilliance in the second ODI versus Australia in Indore on Sunday (September 24), picking up three wickets in his seven overs by conceding 41 runs. On a flat track, he dismissed Marnus Labuschagne, David Warner and Josh Inglis in quick succession to script India’s 99-run victory.
Despite his brilliance, former Australia skipper Aaron Finch doesn’t see Ashwin making it to India’s final squad for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023.
While India’s World Cup squad has already been announced, it can still be altered until September 28.
"I think that depends on how they think the surfaces are going to play throughout the country, and by that time, I think the skill in picking a squad for the World Cup is you have to think of the back end. But you can't think too much about it because you have to get there,” Finch said while speaking to Star Sports.
“I think he might struggle to make it to the final 15, but as somebody who has played so much cricket, I think the rest of the group that is with the Indian team for this current series against Australia, they could learn so much about big game play. Because Ashwin is somebody that stands up in big games, whether it's a test match or a T20 game, he has done it all throughout his career. So I wouldn't be surprised if he's there at the moment as a mentor around the group, but I don't see him making that last 15, unfortunately," he added.
Aaron Finch also spoke on who the key bowlers will be at the World Cup, slated to get underway on October 5 with the England versus New Zealand clash in Ahmedabad.
"Well, the reason I retired - Bhuvi. He's the one that I always tried to avoid, but neither of us are playing now, so that's I think new ball bowlers who can swing, are a danger to everyone. I think Trent Bolt, Mitchell Starc, and Rabada, these guys, especially Siraj, he's as good as anyone in the world at the moment,” he remarked.