Axar hasn't recovered from quadriceps strain

Ashwin extensively trained in NCA on different grips and angles

Ashwin hasn't been a regular in the shorter format

The World Cup squad for India has undergone a last minute change wherein all rounder R. Ashwin has replaced Axar Patel. Axar Patel had sustained injuries during India’s clash with Bangladesh which they lost despite his valiant efforts. Ashwin impressed with the ball during the first 2 ODIs against Australia. He had also worked at the National Cricket Academy extensively to work with different grips and angles to adapt to the One Day International format. 

“Axar Patel has failed to recover in time for the World Cup after sustaining a left quadriceps strain during India’s Asia Cup Super Four encounter against Bangladesh. The spin-bowling all-rounder missed the final of the Asia Cup as a result,” The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stated in a media release.

“Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been named his replacement, who was impressive on his return to ODI cricket in the recently concluded series against Australia where he picked up four wickets in two games,” the release added.

Ashwin had missed out on the 2019 World Cup, when the team management under the Ravi Shastri-Virat Kohli leadership had backed the Kul-Cha (Kuldeep Yadav- Yuzvendra Chahal) duo. He was in and out of the setup in the shorter formats of the game in irregular intervals.