ENG vs IND 2018: India Sweat Over Ravichandran Ashwin's Fitness Ahead Of Fourth Test

Ravichandran Ashwin looks doubtful for the crucial fourth England vs India Test due to a groin injury.

Brimming with confidence after the thumping win in the third Test, Team India finally hit the nets on Monday. The players enjoyed a much-needed break after thrashing England by 203 runs at Trent Bridge to keep the five-match series alive. And they have now started their preparations to level the series.

But their preparation is set to be hit by the speculation over their spin spearhead Ashwin‘s fitness. The off-spinner is doubtful for the upcoming game due to a groin injury.

He is currently nursing the injury and is in a race against time to get fit for the upcoming game.

Ashwin was not completely fit for the third Test either. But the team gambled on him and it did not yield desired result. Ashwin struggled throughout the game and picked up only one wicket which fell on the last day of the Test. He bowled just one over in England’s first innings where the hosts lost their all 10 wickets in a single session. In the second innings, he bowled 22.5 overs and scalped a solitary wicket. But he had impressed in the series-opener at Edgbaston by picking up 7 wickets.

And the latest reports are not encouraging either. According to The Times of India, Ashwin did not bowl a single delivery in the nets on Monday. He also did not participate in the fielding drill. On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja, who is yet to get a game in the series, bowled his heart out.

Ashwin was reportedly standing with team physio Patrick Farhat and trainer Shankar Basu.

But despite the injury, the team wants to take a late call on Ashwin. The fact that he batted in the nets pretty much proves that. On the other hand, Jadeja not getting a chance to bat shows that he is still not certain for the game.

The fourth Test gets underway on August 30 at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.