Sunil Gavaskar explains where Ravichandran Ashwin will be key factor for India in ODI World Cup

Ravi Ashwin. (Photo Source: ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has implied that Ravichandran Ashwin could play a key role for team India in the forthcoming ICC Cricket World Cup. The two-time champions will kickstart their campaign against Australia on October 8 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Ashwin is set to make his third appearance in the marquee event after the management has made a last-minute addition to the squad. The veteran off-spinner came into the roster as a replacement for Axar Patel, who sustained a quadriceps tear and was ruled out of the entire tournament.

Gavaskar stated that India have some efficient pacers in their squad, describing them as ‘world-class bowlers.’ 

“To start with the new ball there is Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami…I don’t know if all three of them will play in the World Cup, but these three are world-class bowlers. We saw Bumrah took a little bit of a hammering in Rajkot against Australia. He is too experienced a bowler to repeat those mistakes,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying by India Today.

The 74-year-old went on to say that Ashwin can be a key factor for India in the middle overs. The spinner will not allow the opponents to build significant partnerships as India can restrict a team to a lower score, according to the former cricketer.

“But that is not to worry. It is the middle overs which is…we saw what good pitch this was so players can play through the line when the ball is not deviating or turn or bounce. And this is where Ashwin with his experience and his canniness will play as a key factor. I’m not sure if they will play him in the XI for the big matches but he is the kind if bowler who can actually get you wickets in the middle overs, and that doesn’t allow partnerships to build and subsequently, a team can be restricted to a low total,” he added.