Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra believes India should play both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in their playing XI for the second Test match against England.
Ashwin was dropped from the final XI in the first Test match at Nottingham as the team management decided to play with four fast bowlers and included Shardul Thakur in the team.
Meanwhile, Ashwin has been in good form in the foreign conditions. The veteran off-spinner had scalped four wickets in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand.
Ashwin had also picked 12 wickets in three Test matches against Australia. Furthermore, Ashwin can also contribute while batting down the order and has all the experience under his belt.
On the other hand, Shardul Thakur had scalped four wickets in the opening Test match against England, including the big wicket of Joe Root in the first innings. Thakur had done a decent job for the team but a lot of cricket pundits believe that Ashwin should come back into the playing XI.
Aakash Chopra said while talking on his YouTube Channel, “One hundred percent. You want to play five bowlers and don’t want to compromise on your batting, I totally get it. But in that, you should definitely play Ashwin and Jaddu and both will bat well also. It will be unfortunate that you will have to leave out Shardul.”
Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj was picked in the team as Ishant Sharma was carrying a niggle. Chopra feels the lanky fast bowler will need to wait for his chance as Siraj has impressed with his skills and accuracy.
“You will play your three premier bowlers, who are Bumrah, Shami and Siraj after this Test match – Ishant will also have to wait. That’s the nature of the beast, you get injured and someone plays and ensures his place, then it takes longer for you to come back.”
Chopra reckons that there will be help for the spinners as the Lord’s pitch has been used for the Hundred matches.
“It is the second half of the English summer. You are going to Lord’s where a lot of The Hundred is being played, which means the pitch has been used a lot, the square is being used quite a bit. And if it is being used that much, there is going to be help for the spinners.”
The second Test match will be played at Lord’s from 12 August.
