Ashwin bowls magical spell in his only preparatory 50-over game ahead of ODI return vs AUS

ICC ODI World Cup is just a couple of weeks away and all the teams are gearing up for the mega showdown. participating teams have announced their squads for the World Cup and now looking forward to settling their playing XI according to the playing conditions. Any injury concern for any team ahead of such a mega event will definitely be a major concerning point. Just a couple of days ago, Pakistan's pacer Naseem Shah got injured and is now expected to miss the tournament and the same went with Australia's Travis Head, who will be missing the first half of the World Cup due to injury. Team India is also facing an injury doubt regarding Axar Patel who got injured during the recently concluded Asia Cup.

3 Things you need to know

• Team India will begin its World Cup journey with a match against Australia on 8th October

• India will play Australia in 3-match ODI series ahead of World Cup

• Axar Patel has been ruled out of the IND vs AUS ODI series

READ: 'Don't think he needs power or...': Ex-cricketer makes explosive statement on Virat Kohli

R Ashwin returns to the ODI squad after 21 months

After Axar Patel's injury, there was a question mark over his replacement and this was cleared by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma when he announced R Ashwin as the part of Indian squad for the 3-match ODI series against Australia. The 37-year-old Ashwin, who last played an ODI in January 2022, was picked for the upcoming three ODIs against Australia alongside Washington Sundar. Both the off-spinners will be fighting for that potential World Cup spot if Axar Patel doesn't get fit in time for the global event beginning October 5.

READ: 'He is not playing any cricket': Rohit Sharma has some out of the box take on Ashwin's ODI return

R Ashwin impresses ahead of IND vs AUS ODI series

Ahead of the IND vs AUS series, which begins from September 22 onwards in Mohali, Ashwin, in a bid to prepare for ODI cricket, appeared in a 50-over match for his club side MRC-A in the ongoing VAP trophy organized by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association.

Image: BCCI

Ashwin bowled a tight spell in the second-division game, picking up a wicket as well. He ended with figures of 10-0-30-1, which comprised 34 dot balls and just a solitary boundary. He also batted at No. 7 in the match, scoring 12 off 17.

India will be taking on Australia in a 3-match ODI series which begins from 22nd September at 1:30 PM. The match will be played in Mohali.

India's squad for the 1st two ODIs against Australia

KL Rahul (C & WK), Ravindra Jadeja (Vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.