IND vs AUS: Has R Ashwin's magical spell in Indore batting paradise pushed Axar Patel out of World Cup race?

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IND vs AUS: Ravichandran Ashwin, who had made an ODI comeback after a span of 18 months, bowled a magical spell during India's second match of the 3-match series against Australia at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.

Ashwin, who last played an ODI match in January 2022, has been called for the Australia series which is also India's last ODI assignment before the World Cup 2023.

Captain Rohit Sharma has earlier revealed that he has been in regular touch with Ashwin and kept him in the loop in the lead up to the World Cup 2023. Washington Sundar was flown in for the Asia Cup 2023 final after injury to Axar Patel in the Super Fours match against Bangladesh.

Axar Patel, who has been named in India's 15-member provisional World Cup 2023 squad, has been ruled out of the first two matches and has been named in the squad for the third ODI. Washington Sundar is also in the team but Ashwin has been preferred ahead of him in the first two ODIs.

In the first ODI, Ashwin picked the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne and gave away just 47 runs in eight overs. Later after India's five-wicket win, he came out for a centre wicket batting practice right after the presentation ceremony around 10 PM. Ashwin coming to nets for a batting practice after the Mohali ODI proved that Ashwin was very much in India's scheme of things for the World Cup 2023.

IND vs AUS: Ashwin ready to barge in India World Cup 2023 Squad after magical spell in Indore?

Ashwin seized the opportunity further on Sunday by picking three wickets for 26 runs from his first five overs. He looked threatening from the very beginning of his spell and cleaned the stumps of Marnus Labuschagne on a peach of a delivery to clean his off-stump on the fifth ball of the 13th over.

On the first ball of the 15th over, Ashwin trapped David Warner in front of the stumps and on the penultimate delivery of the same over umpire raised his finger again after Josh Inglis was hit on his pad while trying to play a sweep shot.

IND vs AUS: Will Ashwin replaced Axar in the squad

With India ticking all the boxes all the debates are over. The middle-order looks sorted, the openers are doing well, and the pacers including Jasprit Bumrah are fit and breathing fire. However, the management finds themselves in a fresh dilemma.

Will Ashwin replace Axar Patel in India's World Cup squad? Questions were raised when Axar was named in the preliminary squad because of his skill sets which are very similar to Ravindra Jadeja. India did not name a single right-arm spinner.

India can land up in trouble against a team which has a lot of left-handers and would want an off-spinner. The logical decision would be to have Ashwin in the squad. Ashwin is also someone who can score some handy runs lower down the order.

The decision would be hard on Axar Patel but having the experience and guile of Ashwin would be of utmost importance for India who are trying to end their 10-year wait for an ICC title.