R Ashwin knows Chennai's conditions the best, he will walk into India's XI against Australia: Piyush Chawla

Team India’s squad for the ODI World Cup 2023 has been finalised. The 15 men that will take on some of the best teams in world cricket will look to get their hands on the coveted title and aim to break their dreaded ICC curse.

Ahead of the tournament, a major change was made in the Indian squad, with Ravichandran Ashwin making his way after all-rounder Axar Patel was ruled out due to injury. Ashwin joined the team in Guwahati on September 29 as the side prepared for the World Cup warm-up games.

Speaking on the same, former Indian cricketer Piyush Chawla talked of Ashwin’s inclusion in the World Cup squad. Chawla opined that Ashwin is a like-to-like replacement for Axar and lauded his ability to perform with both the bat and the ball. 

"We all knew that once Axar Patel got injured and was not fit enough for the World Cup, Ravi Ashwin was the straight choice because of his experience and the way he has bowled in the past. It is no surprise. It is a like-to-like replacement as he can bat, and is a very decent batter," Piyush Chawla said in a video shared by ESPNcricinfo.

Ashwin is a street-smart cricketer: Piyush Chawla

Furthermore, Chawla heaped massive praise on Ashwin, stating that he is a "street smart cricketer". He also pointed out the minimal ODI games that Ashwin has played in the past two years and talked of how he could have an impact against Australia in Chennai as well. 

"Ashwin is a street-smart cricketer. He is a very great player. No matter if he is bowling in white-ball or red-ball cricket, he is always thinking about the game. He is always connected to the game. So although he has not played a lot of cricket in ODIs over the last two years, he is a really good bowler and will do good for the team," Chawla said.

"Nobody thought Ashwin would play. But he is walking into the playing eleven straight away against Australia at Chennai which favours spin. He knows how Chennai's conditions are and has played enough cricket there to exploit these conditions,"he added.