India made a significant eleventh-hour change to its squad for the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023 squad. Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was named as a replacement for the injured all-rounder Axar Patel.

Ashwin, who is undoubtedly one of the greatest off-spinners, brings a wealth of experience to the team. With 155 wickets from 115 one-day internationals, his inclusion adds variety to India's bowling attack, complementing left-arm spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. His game awareness and match smartness are well-known assets that could play a crucial role in tight contests, making him a valuable addition to the team.

Despite having played only four ODIs since the start of 2018, Ashwin's potential for another World Cup campaign was evident. His training at the National Cricket Academy under the watchful eyes of VVS Laxman sparked speculation about his comeback to the ODI side. His recent performance against Australia in an ODI series where he picked 4 wickets in 2 matches sealed his place as Axar failed to recover from the injury. .

Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid's decision to include Ashwin in the squad reflects their faith in the seasoned spinner. Despite some concerns about Ashwin's batting strike rate compared to Axar Patel's, the team management recognizes Ashwin's proven match-winning capabilities. His calm demeanor in tense situations will be an asset for the Men in Blue.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board chief’s distasteful comment about India did not go down well with the cricket world. A day after Pakistan were given a heartwarming welcome upon their arrival in Hyderabad for the World Cup, Zaka Ashraf made a shocking comment and later cleared the air around it. However, there was no apology from the PCB boss. It was immature from the senior administrator, considering the team’s upcoming campaign in India.

Also, all is not well in the Bangladesh camp with Tamim Iqbal making his disappointment at having missed out on the World Cup squad public. Captain Shakib Al Hasan also responded to Tamim, making it more complicated.

In the latest episode of Sledging Room Podcast, Rajarshi Gupta and Akshay Ramesh discuss the final phase of the World Cup 2023 build-up.

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