'Earned the right to captain India', Dinesh Karthik makes huge claim for veteran ahead of Asian Games

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India are lining up to feature a second string side for the upcoming Asian Games which starts in September.

The BCCI has taken the decision to field a backup side for the continental tournament as it coincides with the ICC ODI World Cup, which starts on October 5 this year.

As the men's team will simultaneously perform at the Asian Games, Dinesh Karthik believes one India player must get the opportunity to lead the Indian team at the event.

There have been rumours regarding Shikhar Dhawan leading the Indian team at the Asian Games. The southpaw is at the fringes and looks unlikely to be part of the Indian team for the World Cup.

But Dinesh Karthik reckons his Tamil Nadu teammate Ravichandran Ashwin has earned the right to lead the Indian team at the Asian Games.

Ashwin is just part of the Test roster nowadays. The veteran off-spinner has been a great servant of the game but has been denied captaincy opportunities despite having leadership qualities.

But Karthik believes that a player of Ashwin's stature deserves to lead his country at least once, and voiced for his Tamil Nadu teammate.

"(Ravichandran) Ashwin is arguably one of the greatest cricketers to have ever played the game. I think he deserves to captain India once, I genuinely believe that he has earned the right to be a captain of Team India," Karthik said while speaking to PTI.

Ashwin last played an ODI match for India back in 2022 against South Africa. The off-spinner has 474 Test wickets, but he also has 151 ODI wickets in 113 matches.

The 36-year-old is currently playing for Dindigul Dragons in the Tamil Nadu Premier League, where he has so far picked up 4 wickets in as many matches.