Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin returned to the Indian ODI team after a long 20 months. The Board of Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for the three-match ODI series against Australia at home, bringing back the star spinner.
Regular captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav will be rested for the first two ODIs. They have been placed in the third and last one-day team. Lokesh Rahul will lead the team in the first two matches. His deputy is Ravindra Jadeja.
Ashwin last played an ODI against South Africa at Pearl in January last year. Ashwin was not included in the previously announced squad for the World Cup. The right-arm off-spinner’s chances of making the final squad for the World Cup have increased with his sudden return to the team. During the recently concluded Asia Cup, Ashwin was busy training intensively with spin specialist Sairaj Bahutul at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.
About taking Ashwin into the team, India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar said, ‘Ashwin is an experienced player. He is a good option for us. Although he did not play ODIs since last year, he was in the game. Ashwin played the last Test series on the West Indies tour. In the series against Australia, I will understand what is his current state.’
India will start the ODI series against Australia from September 22. The next two ODIs will be on September 24 and 27 respectively. This is Asia Cup champions India’s last ODI series before the World Cup.
(19 September/MM)