On Thursday, all eyes were on R Ashwin as he stepped onto the nets to bowl. In the adjacent nets, Ishan Kishan and Washington Sundar faced deliveries from Nuwan Seneviratne and fielding coach T Dilip, both left-handed batters. Meanwhile, in the first net, local talent Shubman Gill faced toe-crushing deliveries from Jasprit Bumrah.
What caught everyone’s attention was the sight of both Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja bowling in tandem, first to Gill and then to Kishan. This hints at the possibility of the duo featuring in the playing XI.
Rahul Dravid, the coach, indicated that Ashwin is set to play all three games in the series. He emphasized that Ashwin’s inclusion was not a trial but a strategic decision. Dravid praised Ashwin’s experience and his ability to contribute with the bat in the lower order.
Ashwin, who has been busy with Test cricket and domestic tournaments, has not played much ODI cricket recently. Dravid sees this as an opportunity for Ashwin to adapt to the format and gain some match practice.
Despite the surprise selection of Ashwin for ODIs, he remains India’s premier off-spinner. His performance in the nets session showcased his skill and ability to trouble even top batters like Gill and Kishan.
Also read: Washington Sundar vs Ravi Ashwin for India’s World Cup Squad
During the net session, Ashwin bowled impressively to Gill, eliciting oohs and aahs from onlookers. While there were a few loose deliveries, Ashwin quickly adjusted. When facing Kishan, who took a more aggressive approach, Ashwin cleverly changed his angle, resulting in Kishan being dismissed leg before wicket twice. This brought a smile to Ashwin’s face and earned him a pat on the back from batting coach Vikram Rathour.
After an hour of bowling, Ashwin shifted to batting practice, taking throwdowns from Rathour. This net session underlines Ashwin’s continued relevance and skill in the limited-overs format despite his recent absence.