R Ashwin very much part of ODI team, says India bowling coach Bharat Arun

India's bowling coach Bharat Arun on Tuesday quashed suggestions that off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's one-day career is on the downswing, saying the latter remains a vital cog in the national squad.

The 30-year-old, who is ranked second in Tests, has found it difficult to sustain a similar ranking in the limited-overs format. Ashwin's dip in form in ODIs has led many to suggest that it could be an end of the road for the off-spinner, who has played 15 of India's 37 ODIs since the 2015 World Cup.

However, Arun, who was speaking on the sidelines of India's optional practice session, considered Ashwin to be a very talented and skillful bowler.

"He is an extremely talented bowler, and even if you look at his last ODI which he played in the West Indies, he got 3 for 28. Ashwin is very, very skillful," Arun said.

India, who will play second ODI against Sri Lanka on Thursday in Pallekele, had earlier left Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for the ongoing five-match series due to the Board of Control for Cricket in India's rotation policy.

Arun admitted that although they want to give a lot of opportunities to other bowlers, Ashwin still remains an important part of the ODI side.