Back in 2011 when India co-hosted the ICC ODI World Cup, it was a big deal for Ravichandran Ashwin to be sharing the dressing room with legends. Being the least experienced among the 15 he featured in 2 matches – against the West Indies and Australia – and the most delightful part of his campaign was to make his World Cup debut at his home ground in Chennai.
12 years have passed since Ashwin’s debut in the World Cup, during which he has evolved into a renowned spin maestro. With the prestigious tournament returning to India, he stands as a senior presence in the squad, ready for the campaign opener against Australia at Chepauk on Sunday.
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Ashwin received a last-minute call-up for the World Cup after Axar Patel failed to recover from a quadriceps injury he suffered in the Asia Cup in September.
The toss-up for the replacement was between Ashwin and his state mate Washington Sundar as the selector emphasized having an off-spinner who could bat.
The Australia ODIs were the testing ground for 37-year-old Ashwin who had played only 2 ODIs in the last 6 years. What the veteran spinner showcased throughout the series was more than enough to testify that Ashwin was far from done. So, following India’s 2-1 series win, the selectors gave a nod to the veteran off-spinner’s inclusion in the final 15.
Ashwin’s selection certainly became a matter of big debate with people questioning the need to include someone who isn’t a regular for India in ODIs. But those who find it a great selection cite the brilliance of Ashwin when it comes to reading the game well in home conditions.
In an exclusive interaction with News18 Cricketnext, former India women’s team captain Anjum Chopra shared her opinion on selectors picking Ravichandran Ashwin ahead of anyone else.
Anjum started off by stating that whoever plays for India has to be a top-notch cricketer and the Chennai-born Ashwin is definitely one.
“We always have 17-18 players who could make it to the Indian squad but we have to select 15. Ravichandran Ashwin came in as a replacement for Axar Patel. Yuzvendra Chahal could have also made the cut. Had injury concerns not been there, you never know, we could have had more options as well. But all these players are still around the Indian squad so anyone could have come in and replaced another one and that’s the luxury that we have,” said Anjum Chopra.
“And obviously, Ashwin is a quality player, skilled and experienced. So anyone playing for India cannot be a not-so-good player. He has to be a top-notch cricketer and Ashwin is one,” she added.
When it seemed like the window for Ashwin’s return to ODIs was closed shut, he received the opportunity to come back and represent India in a monumental event such as the 50-over World Cup. Despite having many talented options around, the selectors zeroed in on the veteran off-spinner to aid India’s mission to finish the decade-long drought of ICC titles.
When he was picked for the Australia series, Ashwin ensured he got enough game time turning up for a local One-Day game in Chennai before joining the Indian camp in Mohali for the first ODI against Australia.
Speaking about the readiness of Ashwin, Chopra said, “He wasn’t sitting at home and doing nothing all this while. They were playing which really makes a lot of difference and he’s been an active player. Whether he’s playing T20Is, ODIs, or 4-day games or Test cricket, that really doesn’t make much difference. He is an immensely talented cricketer; we all know that. If you are playing for India, you must have all these qualities to represent the national team.
“From T20Is to ODIs, yes it’s a shift but still, you can make that transition at your disposal. And he has done really well. So, we are really hoping for him to be in the playing XI,” she added.
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Ravichandran Ashwin brings his guile to the table and his willingness to experiment will bode well in the middle overs of India’s hope to make in-roads and dictate the game against the Aussies.
But, what about the selectors’ idea of picking ‘an all-rounder who could bat down the order to provide depth to the line-up’ in the squad?
The veteran off-spinner is no mug with the bat and has in the past showcased his batting abilities on several occasions and Chopra believes Ashwin’s batting won’t be a big concern for the management.
“Having two skills is always a great ability to have. If you can do both things including fielding, then it really matters. So yes, Ashwin can bat and we know that. So the only thing is we can hope. What actually is going to happen that day you can only predict. But as a cricketer, you always practice hard to perform on that particular day and the results are obviously not in your hand.
“And the Indian team is experienced enough to know how to bring the best out of him,” Chopra said.
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