Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra reckons Ravichandran Ashwin wouldn’t play the next match against England. Ashwin was dropped from the first two Test matches against the hosts and he is unlikely to return to the playing XI.
The Indian captain Virat Kohli has revealed that it is crucial for them to take 20 wickets and that’s why they are playing with four fast bowlers.
In fact, all the 20 England’s wickets in the first two Test matches have been taken by the Indian pace battery as Ravindra Jadeja has gone wicketless. Jadeja is in the team for his batting credentials and he has delivered the goods while batting in the lower order.
On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami had delivered with the bat in the second innings of the Lord’s Test. The duo had added a fine alliance of unbeaten 89 runs as Shami scored his second Test fifty whereas Bumrah scored 34 runs. Thus, India was able to take a lead of 271 runs as they posted 298-8 in the second essay.
Meanwhile, there is no doubt that Ashwin has been a tad unlucky to miss out in the playing XI as he has shown good form while playing in the overseas conditions.
Aakash Chopra said while talking on his YouTube Channel, “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.”
In fact, Ashwin could have been lethal at Lord’s, especially in the second innings. Moeen Ali had also got assistance from the surface in the second innings as he had made good use of the footmarks outside the right-hander’s off-stump.
“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.”
Chopra added that India’s currently fast bowling quartet is instilling fear in the opposition. The Indian fast bowling unit is one of the best in the world and they are breathing down the neck of the opposition with their pace and accuracy.
“The sort of success, let’s be honest, this fast-bowling quartet has worked in a decimating fashion and is instilling fear. So much so that Jadeja has not even taken a single wicket, you have taken 40 wickets in four innings, and you are still not missing wickets from a spinner.”
