Pathan acknowledged Ashwin's exceptional skills and considered him one of the best in the business at present.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan expressed his confusion over the inclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia. The first ODI is scheduled to take place at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on September 22. Pathan acknowledged Ashwin's exceptional skills and considered him one of the best in the business at present.
However, Pathan believes that Ashwin's selection in the 50-over format indicates a lack of preparation on the part of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It is worth noting that the experienced spinner has not played an ODI match for India since January 2022.
“You can’t get a better spinner than Ashwin in the entire world. But in a tournament as big as the World Cup, where there is immense pressure, you can’t expect a senior player to walk in and play for the team in a format which he hasn’t played for a long time and prove his worth. So you are leaving it entirely to fate. There is no planning here,” the 38-year-old was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
The addition of Ashwin to India's ODI roster for the Australia series is expected to provide a significant advantage for the Indian team. Ashwin, an experienced offspinner, was a key member of the squad that clinched the World Cup in 2011. He has also established himself as a formidable force in the 50-over format, boasting an impressive record of 151 wickets in 113 ODIs, with an average of 33.5 and an economy rate of 4.94.
These upcoming three ODIs will serve as a crucial warm-up for the highly anticipated Cricket World Cup 2023, set to commence on October 5 in India. India will commence their campaign against the five-time champions, Australia, on October 8 at the renowned MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai.
India holds a significant advantage heading into the ODI series, thanks to their exceptional performance in the recently concluded Asia Cup. The Men in Blue secured their eighth championship title by defeating Sri Lanka in the final, held in Colombo. In contrast, Australia is coming off a disappointing 3-2 ODI series loss to South Africa.
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