World Cup 2023: R Ashwin replaces Axar Patel in India's 15-member final squad

Digital Desk: India made a last-minute change to their World Cup 2023 squad as off-spinner R Ashwin returned to the 15-man side, replacing an injured Axar Patel. Ashwin accompanied the group on a trip to Guwahati on September 29, where India will play the first warm-up match against the defending champions, England, on September 30.

R Ashwin has played in four One-Day Internationals (ODIs) since the start of 2018, but the senior off-spinner has the support of the team management after being named to the squad for the team's most recent World Cup warm-up games, a three-match ODI series against Australia that just ended.

Ashwin will play in his third 50-over World Cup. Only Ashwin and Virat Kohli from the team that won the 2011 World Cup will participate in the upcoming quadrennial 50-over tournament.

India chose three left-arm pacers—Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav—in their first selection rather than one off-spinner.

It is important to note that Ashwin's last-minute addition comes after Axar Patel suffered a quadriceps strain in an Asia Cup match against Bangladesh in September. India defeated Sri Lanka by 10 wickets to win the Asia Cup, although Axar was unable to participate. The young off-spinner was competing with Washington Sundar, who had taken Axar's position in the final.

But Ashwin appears to have benefited from his experience and his performances in the ODI series against Australia.

The squad includes:

Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.