R Ashwin has been on the bench since Team India’s opening game at the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 against Australia, but Sunil Gavaskar feels the off-spinner will return against Bangladesh.
India will face Bangladesh in their fourth match in the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2023 on Thursday, October 19, at the MCA Stadium in Pune, and the legendary cricketer Gavaskar said that there could be a possibility of Ashwin replacing Shardul Thakur in Team India’s playing XI.
Sunil Gavaskar told India Today, “There could be a possibility of that happening (Ashwin playing against Bangladesh). If Shardul Thakur gets a breather, Ashwin could come in, keeping in mind the left-handers in the Bangladesh team.”
He added, “With Ashwin, it's not just that he bowls only to left-handers, he is a top bowler, and he bowls well to right-handers as well. He is a great bowler. He can operate on pitches that don't generally assist the spinners. I think he is raring to be given an opportunity.”
The former Indian cricketer was also happy with the way the Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team played fearless cricket in the ongoing World Cup 2023.
Gavaskar signed off by saying, “The way the Indian team has been playing, the way the Indian team has been showing resilience. More than anything else, I think the initiative and the fearlessness that the Indian team has been showing. That's been so good to see. That is something that Bangladesh will have to counter.”
(With India Today Inputs)
