Fans were surprised after Ravichandran Ashwin was not included in playing XI in the first Test against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. India decided to go with 4 Pacers and sole spinner. The fours Pacers were Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, and Mohammed Shami. The sole spinner was all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and not Ravichandran Ashwin.
Meanwhile, ahead of the Lord’s Test Shardul Thakur got injured. So, many fans thought that Ashwin might be included in playing XI. However, this didn’t happen as India decided to go with Ishant Sharma instead of Ashwin. Also, many experts believe that the off-spinner might not be seen very frequently in the away Tests played by India.
The 34-year-old has now revealed the real reason behind his exclusion from the Lord’s Test. In his YouTube show, ‘Kutti Story’, with fielding coach R Sridhar, Ashwin talked about his exclusion. He told that he was all set to play the Lord’s Test as conditions were in his favor. However, after the rain which happened in the morning, India decided to go with the new template of 4 Pacers. Ravichandran Ashwin asserted:
“The funny thing was, before the match, they were like, ‘There’s a heatwave. You please be ready mate. You might play.’ Upon coming to breakfast in the morning, rains started lashing out. I asked, ‘Won’t you tell about heatwave after it came? Why gave me hope only for it to end in disappointment!’,”
With test matches at Leeds and Manchester, Ashwin will probably get one test at best, then two more at home and with this template, nothing for another year, maybe! The best spin bowler in the world!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 12, 2021
“I don’t see R Ashwin playing in the next encounter” – Aakash Chopra
England will face off India in the third Test match which is scheduled to take place at Headingley, Leeds on Wednesday 25 August. Meanwhile former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has opined that once again Ashwin will not be included in playing XI. Chopra stated:
“Not at Headingley. I don’t see R Ashwin playing in the next encounter. But then there is still some time to go, there might be injuries and all of that but I don’t think India will go with the combination of two spinners and three fast bowlers. Lord’s was a good opportunity where you could have played two spinners. Pitch was also dry, the Hundred was also being played. But up north – Headingly, Leeds – where do you need spinners that much.”
Can’t agree more!! #testcricket #forever https://t.co/CskIL401wx
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) August 16, 2021