Ajay Jadeja bats for Ashwin's inclusion in India’s World Cup squad

Ravichandran Ashwin in action (Source: Twitter)

Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja has backed Ravichandran Ashwin to make the cut for this year's ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.

Ashwin played his last ODI for India against South Africa last year. However, in the current scheme of things, he doesn't fit in and looking at the bigger picture, Ashwin is more likely to only play in Test cricket now rather than ODIs and T20Is. The presence of proven performers like Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and the rise of young spinners like Washington Sundar and Axar Patel certainly ends the road for the ace off-spinner in white-ball cricket.

The 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup is scheduled to be played in India in October-November. As the host nation of the marquee event, the Men in Blue would like to win the cup for the second time in over a decade. Recently, the BCCI shortlisted 20 players for the global event.

No official announcement has been made on who these players are but the core of the current team should be part of it and Ashwin is surely not part of the probable 20-men list.

Speaking in a panel discussion on Cricbuzz, Jadeja opined that Ashwin would be a great asset for India with the ball in the upcoming 50-over World Cup as spinners are likely to dictate terms in the subcontinent conditions.

“I would play (Ravichandran) Ashwin in India in that World Cup because spin will be (important). (Yuzvendra) Chahal, you don’t need to play now, you need to play him in the World Cup. These are ready whether you want them or not."

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