The India tour England five-match Test series finally began on Wednesday, August 4 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. India went in the match with a full-fledged side however there were a couple of big names missing from the squad. The two of the most experienced Test players of India Ravichandran Ashwin and Ishant Sharma were not included in the playing XI.
Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin has been the backbone of India’s spin department in Test cricket. He was in sensational form during the recent Test series India played. Ashwin even got crucial breakthroughs for India in the World Test Championship (WTC) final without getting a lot of help from the surface.
Before the WTC final, in the series against England at home Ashwin was the highest wicket-taker. He dominated the English batsmen in the series and came out as the most valuable player of the marquee series.
Huddle ✔#TeamIndia #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/zMPovALGaL
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 4, 2021
Also, Ishant Sharma is the most experienced pacer from the Indian side. Still, he missed out on the first Test against England. However, some reports claim that Ishant Sharma’s absence from the playing XI is due to an injury. The workhorse Ishant hasn’t fully fit to be part of the first match against England. Meanwhile, Ashwin’s absence from the squad left everyone surprised. India has included only one spinner in the squad which is all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
The opportunity to win in England and Australia in the same year is rare: Virat Kohli
Speaking at the toss ceremony, India skipper Virat Kohli confirmed that they are going in with only one spinner in the form of Ravindra Jadeja.
“Our bowling combination is: Bumrah, Shami, Thakur, Siraj and Jadeja as the spinner. You could call it an accumulation of all the hardwork we have put in over the years. The opportunity to win in England and Australia in the same year is rare. To get opportunities in such times to play and play in front of crowds as well, we are grateful,” Virat Kohli during the toss.
Here is how Twitterati reacted after Ashwin and Ishant were not included in playing XI
Like @akhilranade mentioned on our preview for @sportsadda_ , one should always expect Virat Kohli & Ravi Shastri to dish out surprises with selections. They've obliged; Shardul & Siraj in. No Ashwin & Ishant. Phew! #ENGvIND
— Arun Gopalakrishnan (@statanalyst) August 4, 2021
Whaaatttt! Ashwin not in team!! Man, that's disappointing! Hoping India wins the game! #IndvsEng
— Sayee Raghavan (@sayee98) August 4, 2021
https://twitter.com/Florilegium_FD/status/1422854258139963397?s=19
Ashwin is dropped and Jadeja is playing. Good choice. Batting depth matters.
— ` (@FourOverthrows) August 4, 2021
Doesn't make sense to me. I cant imagine dropping Ashwin.
— Aditya (@adityavnathan) August 4, 2021
No Ashwin?! #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/JC3buwzdH6
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) August 4, 2021
Surprising decision at Toss that Jadeja is playing ahead of Ashwin
Only reason behind this would be to strengthen the batting in the lower middle order where India have struggled in recent times with Shardul Thakkur in the team India are also batting pretty deep #ENGvIND #India pic.twitter.com/LFqCICtayc— PREETHIK 🏏 (@PreethikCric) August 4, 2021
Should have Included Ishant
— Prasad Kale (@thatpkale) August 4, 2021
We are seeing the quiet transition of India's pace attack with the likes of Shardul and Siraj being picked ahead of the experienced Ishant #cricket #ENGvIND
— Chandresh Narayanan (@chand2579) August 4, 2021
They haven’t picked Ishant? pic.twitter.com/6euIxQUyH0
— Tom Carpenter (@Carpo34) August 4, 2021
https://twitter.com/DSdoc97/status/1422836218144854017?s=19
Ashwin & Ishant dropped…
Tough on Ashwin but Jaddu makes a strong case with his batting and fielding.
But Ishant should have played in place of Bumrah, based on the recent form.
— ரஜினி நேசன் (@RajiniNesan) August 4, 2021
Ashwin & Ishant dropped…
Tough on Ashwin but Jaddu makes a strong case with his batting and fielding.
But Ishant should have played in place of Bumrah, based on the recent form.
— ரஜினி நேசன் (@RajiniNesan) August 4, 2021
R Ashwin left out of the playing XI is a proper WTF moment. #INDvENG
The last time Ashwin bowled in England was about three weeks back. And he took 6 for 27 in 15 overs.
— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) August 4, 2021
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