India have suffered a major blow ahead of the World Cup final, with all-rounder Axar Patel ruled out of the tournament with a left quadriceps strain during India’s Asia Cup Super-Four encounter against Bangladesh. Ravichandran Ashwin has been named as his replacement in the 15-member squad but can he fill the void left by Patel and help India win their third World Cup title?
The final 15 in the Team India world cup squad are –
Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav
Patel’s absence is a blow for India, as he was a key member of their bowling attack. He is a left-arm spinner who can bowl both over and around the wicket. He is also a good fielder, and can contribute with the bat when needed.
Ashwin’s inclusion in the squad has been met with mixed reactions from fans and experts alike. Some have argued that he is the right replacement for Patel, given his experience and versatility. Others have questioned his selection, given his recent form and lack of game time in ODIs.
Can Ashwin’s inclusion prove to be a blessing in disguise for India? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons.
Pros of Ashwin’s inclusion:
•Experience: Ashwin is one of the most experienced bowlers in the world, with over 500 wickets in international cricket. He has a proven track record in the World Cup. He has also played in two World Cups,he picked up 21 wickets in 11 matches in the 2011 and 2015 editions. And was one of India’s leading wicket-takers in the 2011 tournament.
•Versatility: Ashwin has more variations to his bowling; He can bowl both off-spin and leg-spin, and is also a good wicket-taker. This versatility will be a valuable asset to India in the World Cup final, as it will allow them to adapt to different conditions and opposition line-ups.
•Batting ability: Ashwin is also a handy lower-order batsman, and can contribute with the bat in crucial situations. This was evident in the recently concluded ODI series against Australia, where he scored a match-winning half-century in the second ODI.
Cons of Ashwin’s inclusion:
•Ashwin has not been in the best of form in recent months. He took just four wickets in four ODIs against South Africa in July, and was dropped for the first two ODIs against Australia in September.
•Ashwin has not played much ODI cricket in recent years. He has played just four ODIs since the start of 2022, and has not played a World Cup match since 2015.
•On the other hand, Ashwin is not a left-arm spinner. This means that India will lose some balance in their bowling attack and have to rely more on their right-arm bowlers, such as Mohammed Shami and Prasidh Krishna. This could be a problem if the opposition has a strong left-handed batsman in their lineup.
Overall, Ashwin’s inclusion in the squad is a mixed bag for India. He is a world-class bowler who can play a key role in their quest for the World Cup title. However, his lack of left-arm spin could prove to be a handicap in certain situations.
Only time will tell whether Ashwin’s inclusion will prove to be a blessing in disguise for India.
