With Ravichandran Ashwin making a shocking return to the One Day International (ODI) format just a few weeks before the ICC World Cup 2023, Indian captain Rohit Sharma has stated that the veteran spinner’s lack of playing time is not a concern for his team. Ashwin last appeared in an ODI for Team India in January 2022. Axar Patel’s injury has allowed spinners Ashwin and Washington Sundar to return to the ODI team for the World Cup season.

Former cricketer Saba Karim has welcomed Ashwin’s return to the white-ball setup ahead of the ICC World Cup in response to India’s ODI roster announcement for the series against Australia. According to the former general manager of cricket operations of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), India’s skipper Rohit thinks Ashwin is a “match-winner.”

I think Rohit looks at Ashwin as a match-winner and he’s very clear in the kind of approach he wants to portray in white ball cricket. Now with the World Cup coming up, he understands the dynamics of one-day cricket quite well and knows that he has to pick players who have that kind of an attacking mindset, Karim said.

If Axar is unable to prove his fitness in time for the World Cup, Ashwin or Washington are anticipated to make India’s squad. India has confirmed Ashwin and Sundar to their three-match series roster against Australia, while Axar is expected to return for the third and final ODI. However, Axar’s participation is conditional on his physical condition.