Cricket

He can be a match-winner for you – Arjuna Ranatunga backs Ravichandran Ashwin to be in India’s World Cup squad

Sri Lanka’s World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga wants Ravichandran Ashwin to be in India’s World Cup squad. Ranatunga feels Ashwin could be a match-winner for the Rohit Sharma-led team.

Ashwin has not been picked in India’s 15-man World Cup squad but he has been selected for a three-match ODI series against Australia. With Axar Patel not fully fit, Ashwin has been kept in line as a back-up option.

Meanwhile, Ashwin has all the experience under his belt and he can deliver with both bat and ball. Ashwin has scalped 151 wickets in 113 ODI matches at an average of 33.5 and an economy rate of 4.94.

In his column for the Indian Express, Arjuna Ranatunga wrote: “They are looking more at the all-rounders like Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, but I personally feel that they should have someone like R Ashwin in the squad, if not in the XI.”

“When he plays, he can be a match-winner for you. He may be slightly older, he might be slightly slow on the field, but you need guys in the sub-continent who can contain and can take wickets,” he added.

India doesn’t have an off-spinner in their World Cup squad as the selectors have picked Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav and it could be a chink in their armor.

Meanwhile, India will have the advantage of playing in their known conditions but Ranatunga feels the players will also have to cope with the pressure of playing in front of their own crowd.

“India will definitely have a huge advantage in the World Cup, however, they will have the biggest disadvantage of playing in front of their own fans. In India, the crowds will put a lot of pressure on the Indian team and they need to overcome that apart from the opposition,” the former cricketer added.

India has a balanced squad and they certainly have the players who can take them to glory in the quadrennial event. Team India will begin their World Cup campaign against Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on October 8.

About the Author


Written by DafaNews

DafaNews brings you the most highlighted news in the world of Sports. It serves you up-to-date matches, scores, live streams, fantasy games and quizzes. Our news covers India's prestigious leagues and events – Premier League, Pro Kabbadi League, Cricket World Cup and many more. Follow DafaNews on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,Telegram and Youtube for more updates.

Related Post
Share
Published by
DafaNews

Recent Posts

Robin Uthappa reflects on Kuldeep Yadav being left out of India’s playing 11 during ENG vs IND 2025 Tests

Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa backed the team management’s decision to not play Kuldeep Yadav… Read More

August 7, 2025

Prasidh Krishna’s childhood coach lauds pacer for fine show in ENG vs IND 2025 5th Test

India’s fast bowler Prasidh Krishna's childhood coach, P. Srinivasa Murthy, praised his ward for bowling… Read More

August 7, 2025

Sanjay Bangar hails Ravindra Jadeja’s performance in ENG vs IND 2025 series

Former Indian all-rounder Sanjay Bangar praised Ravindra Jadeja for his consistent performances in the Anderson-Tendulkar… Read More

August 6, 2025

Parthiv Patel lauds KL Rahul, says he performed consistently till the fifth Test against England

Former Indian wicket-keeper bat Parthiv Patel praised KL Rahul for performing consistently throughout the five-match… Read More

August 6, 2025

Sunil Gavaskar reveals turning point in ENG vs IND 2025 5th Test

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar believes Joe Root’s dismissal late on the fourth day of the fifth… Read More

August 5, 2025

Siraj’s ‘Believe’ Moment Powers India to Famous Win at The Oval

For Mohammed Siraj, India’s dramatic six-run victory at The Oval on Monday began long before… Read More

August 5, 2025