IND vs AUS: Biggest homecoming for Ashwin as 37-year-old gets to play an ODI match in Chennai after 10 years

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IND vs AUS: An ODI comeback after an 18-month hiatus to finding a place in India's World cup 2023 squad - a lot happened with Ravichandran Ashwin within a span of just 10 days.

India's Test specialist was picked in the squad for the bilateral series against Australia on September 18. He impressed in the first two matches and replaced injured Axar Patel in India's final squad for the marquee event on September 28.

Exactly ten days later again, Ashwin found a place in India's playing eleven for their first match of the World Cup 2023 against Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, October 8.

The 37-year-old through the course of his over 13-year-old long career has had several memorable homecoming at his home ground in Chennai. The year 2021 witnessed Ashwin play a Test match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) after a gap of four years.

The first and the second Test of the series were scheduled in Chennai due to Covid-19 restrictions. The first game saw him pick nine wickets including a six-wicket haul in the second innings. In the second Test match, the Chennai-born off-spinner achieved the rare feat of hitting a hundred and picking a five-wicket haul in the same game.

Ashwin's first ODI match in Chennai after 10 years

However, this comeback in India blue is special and would be remembered for long by the fans and the modern day great himself. Ashwin had played only three out of his 115 ODI matches in Chennai before this World Cup clash. His last played an ODI match at his home turf came on December 30, 2012.

In that match he scored 31 unbeaten runs off 39 balls and forged a partnership of 125 not out runs with MS Dhoni. India, who were five down for 29 in the match, managed to post 227/6 in 50 overs. Later, Ashwin bowled 10 overs for 34 runs without taking a wicket. Though India lost the match, 'a young Ashwin' impressed with his all-rounder performance.

A decade later, the whole of India is counting on 'the veteran Ashwin' to trap the mighty Aussies in his spin magic and score some handy runs if situation demands.

"For everybody, their birthplace is very special. Chennai is my birthplace, but most importantly, my career and everything that I have done in my life thus far has been around cricket," Ashwin said in a video posted by BCCI ahead of the match.

"Largely, Chennai’s eating outlets nearby cricket grounds, the tea stalls, the tennis ball grounds, the beach - all these things have formed a major part of my life. My first ever ambition as a young cricketer was to play one game at his very special ground in Chepauk," he added.

This is as big as it can get. Ashwin, who was reviewing India's Asia Cup squad a month ago, will look to make his homecoming on the biggest stage, one worth mentioning on his YouTube channel after a decade from now.

India playing 11 vs Australia in Chennai

Rohit Sharma(c), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj