"If There's Any Change...": Rahul Dravid On R Ashwin's Possible World Cup Inclusion
NDTV
India head coach Rahul Dravid refused to confirm if Ravichandran Ashwin will be selected for ODI World Cup, in place of injured Axar Patel.
India coach Rahul Dravid is relieved that key players such as Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who are all coming back from injuries, could get enough miles in their legs ahead of the ODI World Cup, starting in a week's time. Bumrah, who was troubled by a back issue that kept him out for long, bowled his full quota of overs in Mohali and Rajkot - the two matches he played against Australia - but was a bit expensive in the series-concluding third ODI.
The fast bowler had made a comeback during the T20 series against Ireland last month and also competed in Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.
Iyer, who is expected to bat at number four, struck a hundred in Indore and also contributed 48 in Rajkot.
Rahul not only batted in an impressive fashion, scoring two half centuries, he also kept the wickets, allaying concerns around his fitness.
"For all those guys game-time was important. The fact that they have been able to get that is I think something that we are much better off for it," Dravid said after the third ODI that India lost by 66 runs.
After Refusing To Travel To Pakistan, India Will Play Champions Trophy Matches At This Venue: Report
On Thursday, the deadlock over the hosting of Champions Trophy finally ended when the ICC announced that India will play their matches of the 50-over event at a neutral venue.