If Ashwin is also included in the squad for the World Cup, it will give India an edge as he is a world class spinner and is very good at spinning the ball. This will be a valuable advantage on Indian pitches which are usually more favorable for spin bowling.

However, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan questioned the surprise inclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin in the squad and said that the inclusion of Ashwin, who played his last ODI match in January 2022, shows a lack of planning.

You can’t find a better spinner than Ashwin in the entire world. But in a major tournament like the World Cup, where there is immense pressure on the team, you can’t expect a senior player to come in and play for a team in a format he hasn’t played in a long time and prove his worth. So you give everything to fate. There is no planning here, Pathan said.

Three ODI matches between India and Australia will serve as a dress rehearsal ahead of the 50-over World Cup to be held in Australia. begins on October 5.

Two-time world champions India, who lost in the semifinals in 2019, begin their World Cup campaign with a match against Australia in Chennai on October 8.