India vs England 2021: Twitter Reacts As Ravichandran Ashwin Once Again Excluded From The Team For The Fourth Test

Once again he is not picked in the eleven. This is the fourth consecutive game – fourth of the series – that Ravichandran Ashwin hasn’t been included in India‘s eleven.

Virat Kohli runged in two changes for the Oval Test: Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami, both suffering from niggles, make way for Shardul Thakur, who returns to the side after featuring in the first Test, and Umesh Yadav, who makes his first appearance in Test eleven after the Melbourne Test last year. However, it’s the news of Ravichandran Ashwin that has blown up Twitter once again.

The netizens were in shock as Kohli stuck to his template of four pacers and one spinning all-rounder in Ravindra Jadeja. The Indian skipper highlighted that England have plenty of left-handers and Ravindra Jadeja could make use of the rough created by the four Indian pacers. This comes as a bit ironic for the netizens as the presence of left-handed batters in England has been one of the factors for demanding Ravichandran Ashwin’s inclusion.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the No. 2 ICC ranked bowler and No. 4 ICC ranked all-rounder, was the Man of the Series against England earlier at home.

He was then featured in the WTC final against New Zealand, where he was arguably India’s best bowler in the game. The Tamil Nadu off-spinner, post the WTC final loss, played for Surrey at Oval in a County game and snapped a five-wicket haul.

If Ashwin’s credentials were not enough, the Oval venue aiding the spinners the best of all England grounds in the last county season, and over the past decade in Test cricket, must have got the Indian management thinking about including the wily off-spinner. Although, eventually, they went against it. India would also be bowling last in this Test – barring an innings loss again – they could only hope that the non-selection of arguably their greatest off-spinner doesn’t hurt them back.

Twitter Reacts As Ravichandran Ashwin Once Again Excluded From The Team:

So so surprised not to see Ashwin as part of the Test match??‍♀️#offiessticktogether

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) September 2, 2021

Makes you wonder if the Indian think tank have any clue.#unfathomable

— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) September 2, 2021

Surprising to see no @ashwinravi99 in India's XI, I believe there's ample room to play both spinners and 3 specialist quicks. @root66 will line this attack up once again! #ENGvIND

— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) September 2, 2021

In the last three years, Ravichandran Ashwin has 86 Test wickets at 20.62.

In his most recent first-class appearance, he took 6-39 for Surrey in the County Championship at The Oval.

He is once more left out of the India XI.#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/nd9t3SAJQL

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) September 2, 2021

I really hope it works but I am flabbergasted that India have gone in without Ashwin again.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 2, 2021

Still no Ravi Ashwin.. #ENGvIND

— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) September 2, 2021

Kohli when asked about Ashwin: England has four left-handers…..and Jadeja is a good match-up against these batters. pic.twitter.com/3V0AXvARCY

— Manya (@CSKian716) September 2, 2021

Ravichandran Ashwin remains unselected. Ashwin took 7-126 for Surrey against Somerset at the Oval earlier this summer, and was the leading wicket-taker in the India v England series earlier this year. #ENGvIND

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) September 2, 2021

https://twitter.com/benjonescricket/status/1433362860500045824

Ravichandran Ashwin is still not in the Playing XI as India persist with Jadeja, plus 4 seamers – Bumrah, Siraj, Shardul and Umesh. Don’t yet understand why @ashwinravi99 still can’t make the cut #INDvsEND #Oval

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) September 2, 2021

Umesh and Shardul for Ishant and Shami. So rotation in place. No Ashwin is the big news. Now India needs to bat well in overseas conditions against Anderson and Robinson Woakes. #IndvsEng

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) September 2, 2021

Am a little surprised that @ashwinravi99 has been omitted from this 4th Test #ENGvIND at The Oval.@abutch58 @markbutcher72 would know more about the pitches at Surrey CCC. Your thoughts gentlemen?

— Alan Wilkins (@alanwilkins22) September 2, 2021

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