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WATCH | ICC Champions Trophy 2017: Will Ashwin play against South Africa? Kohli breaks silence

The answer everyone has been waiting for!

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Virat Kohli (L) and Ravichandran Ashwin ahead of India's must-win ICC Champions Trophy 2017 game against South Africa in London
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The most pertinent question facing the Indian cricket team going into their do-or-die game against South Africa is whether or not Ravichandran Ashwin will find a place in the playing XI.

It'll be unfair to read too much into things after just one defeat, but it's quite clear where the defending champions faltered against the Sri Lankans. Of the four matches India have played since arriving in England, they have won three on the back of all departments of their team firing. However, in the one loss that they suffered, it was the bowling that let them down. Just one wicket in 48-odd overs is a deplorable performance by any standard.

With the game against South Africa a potential quarter-final - and with the opposition boasting of three proper left-handed batsmen in Quinton de Kock, David Miller and JP Duminy - one would expect Team India to rope in their premier off-spinner into the playing XI.

Ahead of the crunch game, this question was bound to come up in front of Virat Kohli. "There are all kinds of possibilities. We have looked at the last game and seen where we can make a bit of a change," said the captain in a pre-match press conference on Saturday. "We've already discussed those things. I'm not going to reveal anything now (gets a wry smile). But everything is possible. You can have any sort of combination possible for us tomorrow."

Here's Kohli's presser:

Ashwin should be preferred choice

Former South African batsman Neil McKenzie reckons India should try out Ashwin on Sunday. "When it comes to strategy, Ashwin against left-handers should be preferred choice but I think there's quality at both ends and you need two good performances at the end of the day," he said.

Meanwhile, former India pacer Ajit Agarkar believes Ashwin's absence from the playing XI is testament to the strength in India's bowling unit. "At the start of the tournament some of the batters were not in a great form, but once the tournament started all the batsmen are in good form and bowlers are doing well. All the five bowlers are in good form. A guy like (Ravichandran) Ashiwn not making the eleven tells you how well the bowling unit is doing," he said.

(Inputs from PTI)

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