India vs England 2021: VVS Laxman Feels India Should Have Backed A Match Winner Like Ravichandran Ashwin

Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman reckoned that R Ashwin should have played the Nottingham test considering his match-winning abilities for India in the longer format. India has made a steady hold of the game in the first test against England and they are on the verge of taking an early lead in the five-match test series.

England has posted 209 to chase down in the fourth innings for India, thanks to Joe Root’s century that took them to a respectable total while Jasprit Bumrah was the star of the bowling attack for India. With nine wickets in hand on the final day and 157 to win, it could be an interesting chase for the Indian team.

Ashwin Would Be Have Been More Penetrative, Feels VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman opined that Ashwin would have added wickets to his column by being a lot more penetrative and revealed that he would have picked Ashwin in his playing XI. He went on to add that Jadeja could suit the fifth bowler well with his defensive bowling style.

“Coming back to Ashwin’s selection, I just feel like going forward, even though there is forecast for rain, I would always back a match-winner like Ashwin to create an impression and to be inventive, provide some penetration and to be amongst wickets.

What India require is four attacking, wicket-taking bowling options, and then Jadeja can be your fifth bowling option, who can restrict the flow of runs,” said Laxman.

Ashwin Would Have Created More Chances, Reckons VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman mentioned that there was turn an offer for the spinners towards the latter part of the test and wondered if Ashwin would have been very handy to exploit the conditions. He added that Ashwin would have been a lot more helpful in flat conditions.

“As the match progressed, we could see the wicket became flat and there was a little bit of turn for Jadeja. If Ashwin would have been there, he would have created more chances and it would have been a different story in the middle overs,” He added.

Ashwin played a county game for Surrey against Somerset recently and went on to pick six wickets in a single innings in English conditions.