Michael Vaughan
Michael Vaughan. (Image-Twitter.)

Senior off-spinning allrounder Ravichandran Ashwin was once again left out of India‘s eleven in the ongoing series against England at Lord’s after warming the bench in the first Test at Trent Bridge.

Shardul Thakur was ruled out of the second Test due to a hamstring injury. This presented the Indian management a selection dilemma: whether to choose the fit-again Ishant Sharma, who missed the first Test, or Ravichandran Ashwin.

The management went with the lanky seamer owing to the overcast conditions, continuing their template of four pacers and a spinning allrounder in Ravindra Jadeja, who hit a brilliant fifty in India’s first innings in Nottingham.

Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin (Image Credit: Twitter)

Regarding Ravichandran Ashwin’s exclusion, former England skipper Michael Vaughan boldly stated that India have got their eleven wrong by not including the Tamil Nadu off-spinner who is the number 2-ranked ICC bowler and fourth-ranked allrounder. 

Underlining Ravichandran Ashwin’s stature and experience, Vaughan opined that the off-spinner is good enough to pick wickets in any conditions – he was indeed phenomenal in Australia picking 12 wickets in 3 Tests at 28.83.

Feels like England have picked the right team & India haven’t … Ashwin should have played for India to give them more Batting plus his quality bowling … He bowls well in all conditions … Perfect bowling day … Feels like a wickets day … #ENGvIND,” Michael Vaughan tweeted.

Virat Kohli explains why Ravichandran Ashwin didn’t make the cut in the eleven

The Indian skipper, Virat Kohli, revelaed that Ashwin was in the final 12 for the second Test, but couldn’t make in the eleven as they opted to go with four seamers once again considering the overcast weather and the grass on the surface. Joe Root won the toss and elected to bowl first – which also underpins the decision of the Indian management.

Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin (Image Credit: Twitter)

Kohli claimed that having a four-man pace group is an “attacking option” which “makes the most sense” in such conditions. This, the 4 pacers from number 8 to 11, however, weakens India’s batting and lengthens the tail, putting further responsibility on Ravindra Jadeja’s shoulders.

“We announced 12 within the group and Ashwin definitely was part of that. But after looking at the pitch, the conditions and considering how a fourth seamer can be an attacking option, this makes the most sense for us as a team,” Kohli said at the toss.

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