‘Selection of the team is not my job’ - Ravichandran Ashwin reflects on possible exclusion from 2023 ODI World Cup squad

With the ODI World Cup 2023 just around the corner, the Indian team will soon be finalising their squad for the marquee event. As the tournament rapidly approaches, the fans lie in wait to see which players make it to the squad that will be competing in the World Cup and aim to break India’s dreaded ICC curse. 

Players like Ravichandran Ashwin and many more will be keen to know if they made it into the squad. Ashwin made a brilliant comeback to the shortest format for India, and with his return to T20I cricket, an ODI return could not be far off as well.

However, the veteran all-rounder recently came forward to state that he does not give such thoughts any mental space as it is not his job to select the team that will be taking part in the World Cup.

"I don't think like that, because the selection of the team is not my job. I had decided long back that I would not think about stuff that is not in my hand. I am honestly in a very good space in terms of life and my cricket, and I try to keep negativity away from my thought process," Ashwin said in an interview with the Times of India. 

Ashwin further stated that he has no unfinished business, but he would surely like to see India lift the World Cup title. He also talked of an earlier comment in which he contemplated retiring. However, the all-rounder stated that the injury was not the reason that made him think about retiring.

"I think you are connecting two things. I did not consider retirement because of an injury. That was also probably one of the reasons, and I was not sure how I would recover from it because I am not an expert on my body. And then there was some uncertainty around my career, and I was just thinking like that," Ashwin said.

"It is very easy to think negatively, and that was one phase where I was probably thinking I would not be able to come back from it. It was just a thought, and I just want to clarify that. But right now, I feel I am bowling and batting really well, and I have a lot of experience in my kitty. I am taking one day at a time," he added.