Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Thursday (September 28) was named in India's final 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, slated to get underway on October 5.
Ashwin replaced Akshar Patel, who failed to recover from his quadriceps injury that he sustained in the recently held Asia Cup 2023.
Akshar’s injury also paved the way for Ashwin’s selection in the just-concluded ODI series against Australia, where the latter played the first two games and repaid the faith of the selectors and team management.
Ashwin returned with bowling figures of 1/47 (10 overs) in the series opener in Mohali. He continued his brilliance in the second ODI in Indore, picking up three wickets in his seven overs by conceding 41 runs.
Ashwin has featured in two ODI World Cups so far, including the 2011 edition that India won at home. He missed out on playing in the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales after India opted to go with the wrist spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in addition to spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
Ashwin’s last-minute inclusion for the 2023 World Cup created quite a buzz on social media as cricket experts took to X (formerly Twitter) and shared their views.
Here are the reactions:
