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'Ashwin Should Be Playing...' Arjuna Ranatunga Supports Ashwin in World Cup Squad 

image-lmpzs00hAshwin will play the home series against Australia. (X.com)

Former Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga has emphasized the importance of having specialist off-spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin in India's World Cup squad.

Ashwin recently made a return to India's ODI team for the series against Australia after being out of the squad since January 2022. Ranatunga believes that Ashwin's presence would give India the best chance of taking all ten wickets in World Cup matches.

Ranatunga pointed out that while India may have a significant advantage in the World Cup, they will also face the disadvantage of playing in front of their home fans, which can create pressure. He suggested that India should prioritize a specialist off-spinner like Ashwin over all-rounders like Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, as the former has the potential to be a match-winner in subcontinental conditions.

"India will definitely have a huge advantage in the World Cup, however, they will have the biggest disadvantage of playing in front of their own fans. In India, the crowds will put a lot of pressure on the Indian team and they need to overcome that apart from the opposition,"  Arjuna Ranatunga wrote in an Indian Express column.

In Ranatunga's view, having an off-spinner like Ashwin in the squad would provide India with a more balanced bowling attack and improve their chances of success. While Ashwin may be slightly older and slower in the field, his ability to contain and take wickets makes him a valuable asset, according to the former Sri Lankan captain.

"They are looking more at the all-rounders like Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, but I personally feel that they should have someone like R Ashwin in the squad, if not in the XI. When he plays, he can be a match-winner for you. He may be slightly older, he might be slightly slow on the field, but you need guys in the sub-continent who can contain and can take wickets. They must have a different idea, but for me, Ashwin should be playing because the attack looks incomplete without an off-spinner,"  Ranatunga added.

As India currently lacks a genuine off-spinner in their squad, Ashwin could potentially secure a place in the final World Cup squad, competing with players like Washington Sundar for the spot.