The Indian men's cricket team has arrived in Guwahati for their much-anticipated Cricket World Cup 2023 warm-up match against England, scheduled for September 30. The team's arrival was marked by the presence of veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who was earlier named as a replacement for Axar Patel in India's 15-player squad for the World Cup.
Axar Patel, who suffered a left quadriceps strain during India's Asia Cup Super Four match against Bangladesh, was unable to recover in time for the World Cup. Consequently, he missed both the Asia Cup final and India's three-match ODI series against Australia.
The inclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin, a seasoned campaigner in international cricket, brings a wealth of experience to the Indian squad. His presence is expected to bolster the team's spin-bowling options and provide valuable guidance to the younger players.
Take a look at Team India's arrival in Guwahati:
In addition to Ashwin, two other significant players making their return to the Indian squad after overcoming long-term injuries are KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. Having said that the two batters were at least in the scheme of things in ODI cricket and did get match practice in Asia Cup.
Their comeback is seen as a positive sign for India, as both players have been known for their match-winning performances in the past and have delivered with Rahul scoring a ton in his comeback game against Pakitsan in Asia Cup while Iyer notching up a hundred in the ODI series against Australia.
As the Indian team gears up for the World Cup, fans are eager to witness the performance of these key players in the warm-up match against England, which will serve as a crucial preparation ahead of the highly-anticipated tournament opener. The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 promises to be an exciting event, with India aiming to clinch their first world title since 2013.