R Ashwin: I am not looking at IPL as platform for India comeback

Ravichandran AshwinSenior offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin insists that he is not losing sleep over making a limitedovers 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 yesterday 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 offspinner last took the field in a coloured India jersey in July 2017I 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 told PTI Finger spinners Ashwin and Jadeja selection for next yeariquests World Cup seems unlikely at the moment with wrist spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav doing a fine job for IndiaHowever Ashwiniquests 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 legspin in the tournament to be played in AprilMay It is still early days for deciding on team combinations but one of Ashwiniquests challenges would be to handle senior players in the squad Yuvraj Finch David Miller and Chris Gayle are among the highprofile players in the side this season Having played international cricket for close to 10 years I dont 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 roleiquest said the 31yearoldAfter being among the most sought after for a few seasons Yuvraj and Gayles stock in the IPL has dipped drastically and they both were picked up at their base price in the auction last month While Yuvraj is a certainty in the playing eleven it remains to be seen how the team management makes the best use of Gayle despite having an inform opening duo of Finch and Mayank Agarwal at its disposal KL Rahul is another batsman who could open for KXIPThe franchise had plenty of captaincy options but went for Ashwin who took no time to accept the challenge Team mentor Virender Sehwag too has said that he wanted a bowler to be the leader I see it as a natural progression having played cricket for so long at the top level I have always felt I had it in me to be captain It is really exciting said the tweaker from Tamil Nadu Ashwin might have the experience of playing 57 Tests 111 ODIs and 46 T20 Internationals but is forever a student of the game And that is why he is hoping to learn from 16yearold spin sensation from Afghanistan Mujeeb ZadranI have heard great things about him and I am looking forward to bowling alongside him and hopefully and learn a trick or two from him he said modestly Ashwin added that it will be a different experience playing for a team which is not Chennai Super Kings who will return this season after serving a twoyear ban He played seven seasons for CSK from 2009 to 2015 It was special to play for CSK all those years but now it is about doing the job for the team which went after me in the auction All I can say is that it will be special to go back and play at Chepauk he said hoping that the Chennai crowd will continue to back him even though he will be in the opposition campCatch up on all the latest sports news and updates hereDownload the new midday Android and iOS apps to get updates on all the latest and trending stories on the go