Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim recently explained the reason behind Ravichandran Ashwin’s return to the ODI side, just weeks ahead of the World Cup 2023. However, the BCCI announced the squad for the upcoming three-match series against Australia. Ashwin, who last played an ODI in January 2022, was added to the squad after captain Rohit Sharma stated that he is in contention for a World Cup berth. And, Karim stated that Rohit views Ashwin as a match-winner and he also thinks the veteran will come in with an attacking mindset also.

“I think Rohit Sharma looks at Ravichandran Ashwin as a match-winner and he’s very clear in the kind of approach he wants to portray in white ball cricket,” Saba Karim said on Jio TV. “Now with the World Cup coming up, he understands the dynamics of one-day cricket quite well and knows that he has to pick players who have that kind of an attacking mindset.”

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However, despite not playing an ODI for almost two years, Ashwin pretty well knows how to succeed in home conditions and he is one of the best off-spinners in the business right now as well. And, Ravichandran Ashwin has played 113 ODIs for the Men in Blue, claiming 151 wickets at an economy rate of 4.94 as well.

“He also knows that in his bowling lineup, he needs to have out of six, at least five wicket-taking options and if he has Ashwin in the eleven, then that attacking option is available,” Saba Karim concluded.”If you look at all the other players who are in the reserve – they all have that attacking mindset. So, I think Rohit Sharma wants to continue with this aggressive approach that we saw the Indian team play in the Asian challenge.”