World Cup 2023: R Ashwin unlikely to be in India's World Cup 2023 Squad, says Former Australian captain

R Ashwin unlikely to be in India's World Cup 2023 Squad: While senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin remains one of the potential candidates to seal a place for himself in India's squad for ICC World Cup 2023, some voices say he is unlikely to make it through. There has been a buzz among the Indian cricket fans with the comeback of R Ashwin in the ODIs against Australia that he could be one of the guys, who can be in India's final 15-member squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

An untimely injury to all-rounder Axar Patel paved the way for R Ashwin to barge into India's 50-over squad. Though Ashwin was not called for the Asia Cup 2023 Final, which Axar Patel missed due to an injury, the off-spinner certainly made the headlines as BCCI announced India's squad for the three-game ODI series against Australia.

Ashwin has already played two ODI games against Australia and picked four wickets, of which three came in the second fixture in Indore. Throughout his two outings, the spinner has looked threatening and has troubled the Aussie batters to a large extent.

His exploits against Australia certainly defend the claims that he should be in India's World Cup 2023 squad. Also, he would add variety to the Indian squad besides his immeasurable experience in the 50-over cricket.

But, to everyone's surprise, the word is that Axar Patel is likely to be fit for India's warm-up games ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023. If this turns out to be true then the Indian management will have a very difficult choice to make.

R Ashwin unlikely to be in India's World Cup 2023 Squad: Aaron Finch

Meanwhile, former Australian skipper Aaron Finch reckons that R Ashwin will eventually miss out on the 15-men Indian World Cup 2023 Squad and it will be Axar Patel, who will walk into the Indian dressing room for the showpiece event.

"I think he (Ashwin) might struggle to make it to the final 15, but as somebody who has played so much cricket, I think the rest of the group that is with the Indian team for this current series against Australia, they could learn so much about big gameplay," Finch said.

The bold statement from Aaron Finch came after R Ashwin tore Australian batting apart with his sensational bowling in the second India vs Australia ODI in Indore. To get his opening breakthrough in the game, Ashwin bamboozled Marnus Labuschagne in the 13th over. the spinner then went on to pick the wicket of in-form David Warner, who even batted right-handed to counter Ashwin's potent bowling. Ashwin made Josh Inglis his third wicket.

Finch added that Team India could use Ashwin's abilities to some extent by using him as a mentor in the side for the showpiece event.

"Because Ashwin is somebody that stands up in big games, whether it's a Test match or a T20 game, he has done it all throughout his career. So I wouldn't be surprised if he's there at the moment as a mentor around the group, but I don't see him making that last 15, unfortunately," added Finch, who propelled Australia to T20 World Cup glory in 2021."

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