Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has voiced his confidence in Ravichandran Ashwin return to the ODI format, ahead of India’s three-match ODI series against Australia. Ashwin’s opportunity arises following an injury to Axar Patel, offering the experienced spinner a chance to stake his claim for a spot in India’s squad for the upcoming mega tournament.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s ODI appearances have been sparse over the past six years, with only two games under his belt during this period. However, Rohit Sharma believes that Ashwin’s lack of game time in the 50-over format should not be a cause for concern. The skipper emphasized that Ashwin’s extensive experience, particularly in Test cricket, makes him a valuable asset for the team.

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“In Ashwin’s case, game-time and time on the ground are not significant concerns. With his level of experience, it’s more about what’s in his head than his physical condition,” Rohit Sharma remarked during a press conference. He further noted that while Ravichandran Ashwin hasn’t featured in ODIs recently, he has been actively participating in Test cricket, including a recent series in the West Indies and the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL).

Coming 🆙 next 👉 #INDvAUS

Here are the #TeamIndia squads for the IDFC First Bank three-match ODI series against Australia 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Jl7bLEz2tK

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 18, 2023

Rohit Sharma’s decision to include Ravichandran Ashwin in the squad for the Australia series is a strategic move aimed at assessing the spinner’s readiness and form in the limited-overs format. The upcoming matches against Australia will provide valuable insights into Ashwin’s performance and physical condition.

Another concern for the Indian team has been the fitness of Shreyas Iyer. The right-handed batsman missed the final couple of games in the Asia Cup due to back spasms. However, India’s Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar has confirmed that Iyer is currently fit and available for selection.

“He has not picked up a stress fracture at the moment; he is fit, and that is why we have picked him. He has worked incredibly hard over the past few months. Iyer did pick up a niggle, but at the moment, he is fine,” Agarkar reassured fans and selectors.

India’s squad for the first two ODIs against Australia includes KL Rahul as captain and wicketkeeper, with Ravindra Jadeja as the vice-captain. The squad also features promising talents like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Ishan Kishan, among others. Additionally, the bowling attack boasts the experience of R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami.

For the final ODI, Rohit Sharma will take over the captaincy, with Hardik Pandya serving as the vice-captain. The squad remains strong, with the inclusion of stars like Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Ravindra Jadeja. The fitness of Axar Patel will be assessed before his inclusion in the final squad.

As cricket fans eagerly await the action-packed ODI series against Australia, the return of Ashwin and the fitness of Shreyas Iyer add an extra layer of excitement and anticipation to the upcoming contests.

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