Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma, in a recent press meet, refrained from disclosing specific details about the condition of injured cricketer Axar Patel. However, he expressed his confidence in the performance of veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the first two ODIs. Rohit’s comments have ignited discussions about Ashwin’s potential inclusion in India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming World Cup.

Axar Patel, who suffered a left quadricep injury ahead of the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka, is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). This injury has raised concerns about his availability for the World Cup.

Ravichandran Ashwin, known for his exceptional skills as an off-spinner, has made a strong comeback in the first two ODIs against Australia. Rohit Sharma applauded Ashwin’s performance, highlighting his class and experience in handling the pressures of international cricket.

“He has got the class. He has got the experience of playing the sport and handling the pressure. It is just that he has not played ODIs in the last year or so. But you cannot take away the class and the experience the individual has over the years and in the last couple of games we saw how well he bowled,” Rohit said during the pre-match press meet.

Rohit Sharma expressed satisfaction with Ashwin’s efforts and emphasized that his performance has provided a valuable backup option. Ashwin’s ability to bring variety to the bowling attack could be a crucial asset for the Indian team in case Axar Patel is unable to recover in time for the World Cup.

“He has got a lot of variation up his sleeve and in case there is a chance, we can look at a lot of things. Hopefully, the way things are at this point, it does well for us because we have got all the backups ready. We have given them enough game time,” he said.

Teams participating in the World Cup have until September 28 to finalize their 15-member squads. This deadline adds a sense of urgency to the decision-making process regarding the inclusion of players like Ashwin.
Rohit Sharma mentioned that the team has given ample game-time to potential replacements, ensuring that they are well-prepared for any unforeseen circumstances. This proactive approach reflects the team’s commitment to being ready for all scenarios.

Rohit Sharma expressed his satisfaction with the team’s recent performance, citing the return of players from injuries and their successful comeback. The team’s batsmen have been in good form, and the bowlers have consistently taken wickets, giving the squad a well-rounded balance.

“I am very happy with the last 10 ODIs that we played. A lot of guys came back into form (by) scoring lots of runs and the bowlers are taking lots of wickets. In the last few games, we saw the guys who came back from injuries have proven their fitness. (We are) pretty much settled…how we stand, where we stand. Now, it is about taking this whole situation forward in the best possible way,” Rohit added.

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The third ODI against Australia provides an opportunity for the team to test their consistency. Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of maintaining the high standards the team has set in the last few games.
As the captain of the world’s No. 1 team across all three formats, Rohit Sharma acknowledged the significance of this achievement. However, he remained focused on the present and the need to continue playing excellent cricket.

“As a skipper, you will not look into all those things as ‘whitewash is on the cards and things like that. You want to play good cricket, and you want to achieve certain things on the field. The last two games, I was not part of them, but I thought we played a lot of good cricket and achieved a lot of good things. We chased in one game, we batted first in the other, got a decent amount of runs and we bowled pretty well in both games,” the Indian skipper added.

Rohit Sharma reiterated that while being No. 1 is a positive aspect, rankings and past performances should not overshadow the importance of playing well in the current moment. He emphasized the need to focus on the present and deliver outstanding performances on the field.

“It is pretty good (being No. 1) but it does not really matter what kind of ranking you go with or what sort of performances you have had in the past. Yes, it is a positive thing to take forward but sports these days are played at present. We have to play very good cricket in the present day and not worry about what happened in the ranking,” he concluded.

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