Indian spin-bowling all-rounder, Ravichandran Ashwin, has expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia. The first clash is scheduled at the PCA Stadium in Mohali.
In a video shared by BCCI, Ashwin conveyed his excitement, emphasising that the team management consistently kept him informed regarding team selection. It's worth noting that Ashwin's last ODI appearance for India was in January 2022 against South Africa.
"It's a great opportunity for me. It's not about what I want to achieve with these opportunities, I want to enjoy myself and give myself the best chance to enjoy. I went back from West Indies, I was just taking a break. I played a few club games. The team management has kept me in loop. They said if there's a chance, just stay ready. I was just touching base with my fitness, started bowling a few overs," Ashwin stated.
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He further mentioned that he sets high standards for himself and takes immense pride in his performances. With 151 wickets in 113 ODI matches for India, Ashwin's contribution is undeniable.
"I've kept expectations largely from myself. It's easier to deal with expectations that one has about yourself in terms of the pride I hold in my performances and practice. If you have expectations that you can't control, then you might have disappointments," Ashwin remarked.
Despite facing challenges in Mohali, where he's secured only two wickets in 29 overs, Ashwin is keen to innovate and bring a fresh approach to the game.
"I want to bring something different to the table, something different from my perspective. So I've been working on some angles because ODI cricket is not about spin any more. It's about angles that you can present at the crease, the depth of the crease, the usage of that. I'm trying to put myself in a zone of discomfort to try and push barriers as always because what comes first for me is the pride in my performances," Ashwin elucidated.
India Squad for 1st ODI:
KL Rahul (C & WK), Ravindra Jadeja (Vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
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