India’s one of the finest spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin, made a wildcard entry into the team just before the 2023 World Cup. Ravichandran Ashwin replaced the injured Axar Patel in the squad. He expressed that he wasn’t even thinking that he could make the World Cup squad.
Ashwin got the chance to play in the series against Australia, where he showed his class and performed really well in the second match. He was also brilliant in the first match, but he did not get many wickets. Ashwin can be the trump card for Rohit Sharma as the spinner can also provide lusty blows at the back end of the innings.
Ravichandran Ashwin was lucky to make his way into the team; an injury to the left arm spinner Axar Patel brought him into the team for the mega event. He has a big role to play for the team because, in Asian conditions, there is no better spinner than the magical spin master. India’s fortunes very much depend on how Ashwin performs in the middle overs; that is always a crucial period in ODI games.
Life is really full of surprises- Ravichandran Ashwin
In the pre-match interview, in the warm-up match against England, Ravichandran Ashwin expressed that he was sure he could make the WC squad. Ravichandran Ashwin pointed out that he is trying subtle variations and said that pressure is paramount and emphasized that he wants to enjoy the game.
“Life is really full of surprises, and I honestly wasn’t thinking I could be here. The trust that the team management has shown for me, and the circumstances have made sure I am here today. But enjoying the game has been my prime goal over the last few years, and that is what I will be doing in this tournament as well,” said Ravichandran Ashwin.
“All I do is turn the ball both sides, and I feel I can already do that. It is all about doing subtle variations and dealing with pressure in big tournaments. Pressure is of paramount importance for most players in such tournaments, but how you deal with it dictates how the tournament goes for yourself and your team. As far as I am concerned, being in a good space and enjoying the game will keep me in a good space. I have kept saying this; it could well be my last World Cup for India,” he added.