Is there still hope for Ashwin 2.0 to get back into the World Cup squad? 

Do India really need Ashwin in their World Cup squad or to be precise in the XI? 

At the moment, we don’t see him making the cut because team India have all the options they need. But let’s just change our perspective a touch and think of what the veteran can add to the XI.

Team India can use Ashwin 2.0, a version of the player that Rajasthan Royals used to perfection in the Indian Premier League 2022 edition. A canny spinner who will make life difficult for the batters & more importantly, a floater who can rescue you from difficult situations.

Do India need him? Can’t they just use a Jadeja or Pandya in such circumstances? 

Using Jadeja or Pandya as tonkers or batters who can rescue a sinking ship might not be the best possible option. It can backfire big time; what if they get out early? In Ashwin’s case, we don’t really need to worry because he is not an out-and-out batter or a dependable all-rounder.

The RR spinner has stats to back the claim that he can be the one to handle adversity when the big boys go down early, when the godly figures are reduced to mere mortals. 

Let's have a look at his contributions

Match No.20

Ashwin walks out to bat when RR is at 67-4 (9.2 overs). He scores 28 runs at a strike rate of 121.74 before deciding to retire himself out at 135-5 (18.2).

Match No.44

With the score 130-5 (17.1 overs), Ashwin comes in and goes bang-bang from the start scoring 21 runs at a strike rate of 233.33 before getting dismissed at 155-6 (19.1).

Match No.58

Walks out to bat at number three with the score 11-1 after 2.5 overs. Scores a 50 off 28 balls and goes back to the hut in the 14.1 over.

Match No.68

With the score 76-3 after 11.2 overs, in comes Ashwin; he bats at a strike rate of 173.91, scoring 40* runs, helping his team win by five wickets.

Four different situations & four different versions of Ashwin

While these stats mean he can be used in a similar fashion, is there a spot for him in the India XI? To be honest, there isn’t a spot for him, because India are unlikely to take significant risks, despite the hypothetical upside. 

If Pant & Pandya are a part of the top 6, and three of the five bowlers are Jadeja, Chahal & Ashwin, then we can very well have an 11 with three all-rounders & a batting line-up that runs down to number 9. 

Cricket is a game of uncertainty so hopefully, the selectors can find a way to include him in the squad. Never say, never!

Read: OneCricket's Test Team of the Summer