Dinesh Karthik, the veteran Indian wicket-keeper batsman, has backed Ravichandran Ashwin to captain Team India at the Asian Games 2023, scheduled to be played in Hangzhou, China. It has been reported that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are planning to send the Indian men’s team to play in the cricket tournament at the quadrennial spectacle for the first time ever, along with their women’s team.
The 19th edition of the continental multi-sport event, also known as the Asiad, is going to begin on September 23 and culminate on October 8. The first-choice players of the Indian men’s team are expected to not go to Hangzhou, China for the cricket event, because of the ODI World Cup 2023 back home at the same time. ICC CWC is going to kick off on October 5, when New Zealand will take on England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Recently, Dinesh Karthik addressed the possibility of the Indian men’s team playing at the Asian Games 2023, while hoping and wishing that the BCCI makes Ravichandran Ashwin the captain of the side. He said, “I genuinely wish, if India sends a B team to this Asian Games, because the main team will be preparing for the World Cup and if they feel Ashwin is not part of the ODI setup, I really hope and wish that they make him the captain cause I think he deserves it.”
Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin last played a 50-over game for India against South Africa at Boland Park in Paarl on January 21, 2022. As far as the leadership role goes, he hasn’t been a captain for the Indian team in any format. Although, the veteran off-spinner does have the experience of skippering Punjab Kings during the 2018 and 2019 seasons of the IPL.
