IND vs ENG: Red ball to white is spinner R Ashwin's challenge

Come Sunday, India's ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin could play his first ODI in exactly a year, not something one would associate with a player of his quality

R Ashwin

Pune: Come Sunday, R Ashwin could play his first ODI in exactly a year, not something one would associate with a player of his quality. Fortunately for Team India, it had nothing to do with injuries. He couldn't find a place in the playing XI for the last three ODIs against Australia and then the selectors chose to rest the team's premier spinner for the Zimbabwe series, and then for the home series against the Kiwis. Hence, it would be interesting to see how Ashwin adjusts to the shorter format.

"It's more of a mental switch. We played a few T20s in USA in between, and it was a good switch for me. I thought I switched very well there. I am sure it's going to be a challenge. The next three-four days of practice is going to be really important," Ashwin said ahead of Team India's first practice session at the MCA stadium yesterday.

Ashwin had a terrific Test series against England, finishing with 28 wickets and the offie is keen to carry that form into the ODI series too. "It was a good series for me, I take confidence from that. But it's different to play white ball cricket (from Test cricket). The white ball doesn't do enough in the air or off the wicket. It will be a good challenge," said Ashwin.

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