R Ashwin is playing his first ODI World Cup game in eight years, after being selected in the India XI for their opener against Australia on October 8 (Sunday) at Chennai.

Ashwin has played only four ODIs in the last six years and was a surprise pick in the World Cup squad at the last minute, coming in for Axar Patel, who had been picked in the initial team. An injury to Axar during the Asia Cup clash against Bangladesh opened the doors for Ashwin, who played two ODIs against Australia, and picked up four wickets.

The off-spinner, who was not picked in the 2019 World Cup team, last played a game in the competition more than eight years ago, incidentally against Australia in Sydney in 2015.

He was also a member of the 2011 World Cup-winning team, playing two games in the victorious campaign. He is the second player from the 2011 squad to play for India in this year’s event, after Virat Kohli.

Overall, Ashwin averages 24.88 in the ODI World Cup, picking up 17 wickets at an economy rate of 4.36. His World Cup debut, in 2011, was also in Chennai, the venue for India’s game against Australia today.

India have also been forced to make a change at the top of the order, with Shubman Gill not recovering from dengue. Ishan Kishan will replace him in the XI. Shardul Thakur has not been picked, with the pitch expected to be on the slower side.

Australia are without Marcus Stoinis, who has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury, with Travis Head, who has a fractured wrist, not eligible for selection either. Adam Zampa, who suffered a swimming mishap and endured a cut on his face, has been picked.

India XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

Australia XI: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood