Indian team faces a big setback ahead of World Cup start
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Ravi Ashwin, the seasoned off-spinner, has secured a spot in India's 15-player squad for the upcoming World Cup, hosted on home soil. This significant inclusion comes as a replacement for the injured Axar Patel, who was originally part of the team.
Ashwin, known for his prowess in Test cricket, had a previous stint in India's one-day international (ODI) side until June 2017. However, his ODI appearances dwindled, with only four matches, including two against Australia in the recent series, under his belt since then.
The 37-year-old Ashwin's selection is a result of Axar Patel's unfortunate inability to recover from a quadriceps strain in time for the tournament. The International Cricket Council officially released the squad list, and Ashwin found himself among the chosen few. Notably, Ashwin and Virat Kohli stand as the sole surviving members from the 2011 World Cup-winning squad when India served as the hosts.
As the ICC's deadline for teams to finalize their 15-man squads loomed on Thursday, India, a two-time World Cup champion, readied themselves for the challenge. In 2019, India reached the semi-finals but was unable to clinch the title. Their campaign in the 2023 World Cup will commence on October 8th in Chennai, where they face off against Australia, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling cricketing spectacle.
