Win Projections to be updated soon
Ahead of the first warm-up match between India and England at Guwahati’s Barsapara Stadium, scheduled for today, Indian legend spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed the possibility that this edition of the World Cup could be his last for India. During the starting of September, BCCI’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar made the announcement of India’s 15-member squad for the World Cup which was open to any last minute provisional changes. At the time, he did not name any reserve players and said that the squad will remain unchanged until and unless affected by an injury.
It was not until the Asia Cup finals that Indian spinner Axar Patel sustained a quadriceps injury due to which he could not be a part of India-Australia ODI series. Having failed to recover at time, Ravichandran Ashwin earned a call-up to replace Patel and played the first two matches of the just concluded series.
Ashwin’s say on his inclusion to the squad
Ashwin rather took his inclusion in the World Cup squad as a turn of events. The 37-year old bowler expressed “Being in a good space, enjoying this tournament will keep me good stead. This could be my last World Cup for India, so enjoying the tournament is of utmost importance.”
Also during a chat with fellow teammate and veteran cricketer Dinesh Karthik, Ashwin admitted that his addition to the squad was unexpected. He laughed off when Dinesh Karthik asked him about late inclusion in the squad, to which Ashwin replied “I would have said that you were joking. Life is full of surprises. Honestly, did not think you would be here. Circumstances have made sure I am here today, the team management have showed trust.”
Taking to a good start
R. Ashwin just played off a recent 3-match ODI series against Australia where he picked up a total of 4 wickets in the first two matches he played. Ravichandran Ashwin is the only player other than Virat Kohli who was a part of the winning squad during the 2011 World Cup. During his chat with Dinesh Karthik, he also talked about how dealing with pressure assumes utmost importance in a tournament like that of the World Cup.
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