Ashwin not losing sleep over ODI return

New Delhi, Feb. 27: Senior off- spinner R. Ashwin insists that he is not losing sleep over making a limited- overs comeback for India and his immediate focus is on the “big responsibility” of captaining Kings XI Punjab in the upcoming Indian Premier League.

Ashwin, who was appointed KXIP captain on Tuesday ahead of names like Yuvraj Singh and Aaron Finch in the squad, has lost his place in the Indian limitedovers side alongwith allrounder Ravindra Jadeja. The wily off- spinner last took the field in a coloured India jersey in July, 2017.

“I am not looking at this IPL for an India comeback. I go into the IPL with a mindset that I have every year. This season I have a big responsibility ( captaining KXIP) and I am ready for the challenge. I am not looking for anything else. It ( India comeback) will happen if it has to,” Ashwin said.

Finger spinners Ashwin and Jadeja selection for next years World Cup seems unlikely at the moment with wrist spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav doing a fine job for India.

However, Ashwins performance in the IPL will hold the key for him not just as captain but also as a senior bowler who is ready to unleash leg- spin in the tournament to be played in April and May.

It is still early days for deciding on team combinations but one of Ashwins challenges would be to handle senior players in the squad. Yuvraj, Finch, David Miller and Chris Gayle are among the high- profile players in the side this season.

“Having played international cricket for close to 10 years, I don’t think I will have an issue ( handling the senior players).

I am also one of them. It is a strong squad and I feel all the big names you have mentioned will play an integral role,” said the 31- year- old.