Picture Credit: Twitter
Axar Patel, the Indian all-round cricketer, was ruled out of the Asia Cup 2023, after suffering from a left quadriceps strain during the final Super Four match for India against Bangladesh on September 15, Friday. While the 29-year-old didn’t get the chance to play in the final of the continental cricketing spectacle on September 17, Sunday, he did witness the Indian cricket team win the title against Sri Lanka.
At the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Team India captured their eighth Asia Cup trophy, after defeating Sri Lanka by 10 wickets with 263 balls remaining in the innings. Meanwhile, during his last outing for India, Axar Patel was instrumental in bringing the team close to the formidable target of 266, scoring 42 off 34, before they succumbed to a six-run loss to Bangladesh.
As per the statement of Ajit Agarkar, the Indian Chief Selector, the inclusion of Axar Patel in the squad is pending to fitness in the third ODI of the upcoming series against Australia, after ruling him out from the first two matches, because of his injury. The call-up for Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar for the three-match ODI series indicates that the Indian team management isn’t completely confident about the Anand-born cricketer proving his fitness for the upcoming quadrennial spectacle at home, let alone for the Australian challenge beforehand.
1. Washington Sundar
Washington Sundar was included in the Asia Cup 2023 squad of Team India as a replacement for Axar Patel, which led to the all-round cricketer finding a spot in the Indian playing XI for the Asia Cup 2023 final against Sri Lanka. But he didn’t get a chance to showcase his batting or bowling skills on the day, because of the clinical performance from the team at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Now that the 23-year-old is in the Indian squad for the upcoming ODI series against Australia, there is a chance for him to get selected in place of Axar Patel in the ICC Cricket World Cup squad, instead of his scheduled assignment at the Asian Games 2023.