Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has not played an ODI for India since June 2017 but that hasn’t stopped him from aiming for the World Cup to be held in England next year.
With almost a year gone since Ashwin was a part of India’s limited-overs plans, the road back for the Chennai man is tough but the No5 ranked Test bowler in the world is ready should an opportunity arise.
“It entirely depends on what other people (team management and selectors) perceive of my cricket,” Ashwin was quoted to as saying by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“It’s definitely not in my control. Like any other cricketer, I want to wear the blue jersey and represent India at the World Cup. That’s obviously there deep within. At this stage of my career, physically and mentally, I am just focusing on enjoying my cricket. If I land an opportunity, I want to be in a good frame of mind to grab it with both hands”, he added.
Ashwin last appeared in the blues of India in a T20 during the side’s tour of West Indies in 2017 after they were crushed by Pakistan in the final of the Champions Trophy in England.
Ashwin and Jadeja have been consigned to playing just Test cricket.
The 31-year-old has so far played 111 ODIs and 46 T20Is for India in his career and has picked up 150 and 52 wickets respectively in the format. Since the rise of wrist-spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been confined to the Test format.
While Ashwin still harbors hopes of an ODI recall before the World Cup, the spinner has backed India pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to deliver in India’s upcoming limited-overs clashes against in-form England.
“England is a strong team in the shorter formats. They tweaked their strategy and team combination after the 2015 World Cup. The key for India in ODIs will be Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah’s death overs. Hopefully, it will be a high-scoring series”, he stated.