This could be my last World Cup for India: Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin said that he would like to play for the national team beyond the marquee event. He still feels there are areas of the game where he needs to improve
Ravichandran Ashwin has emerged as a key figure in India's preparations for the impending World Cup, replacing Axar Patel, who has been sidelined with a quadriceps strain. The 37-year-old spinner is fully cognizant of the significance of this opportunity, which follows a successful performance against Australia in the first two ODIs of the recently concluded series.
As the world avidly anticipates the commencement of the 2023 World Cup on October 5, The Tamil Nadu spinner acknowledged that this tournament could potentially be his last appearance on the grand stage representing India. In a pre-match chat, he emphasized the significance of savoring every instant of the tournament.
"Being in a positive mindset and appreciating this tournament will serve me well. This could be my final World Cup for India, so relishing the tournament is crucial," Ashwin told Star Sports.
Ashwin's World Cup campaign and his perspective on handling stress
Ashwin has participated in ten World Cup matches, with his most recent appearance occurring in 2015. His top figures were an impressive 4/25. Other than Virat Kohli, Ashwin is the only member of the current Indian team to have participated in the 2011 World Cup winning campaign.
With his expertise and set of skills, he becomes an invaluable asset in India's renewed quest for glory. As is common knowledge in the cricketing community, handling duress is a crucial aspect of any World Cup campaign. The bowling all-rounder is well aware of this. "All you can do is turn the ball in both directions, which I believe I can do. Managing strain is crucial in these tournaments, and it will determine the outcome," he said.