R Ashwin’s non-inclusion in the playing XI for the 4th Test against England has left many shocked and stunned. Many cricket pundits have opined that Ashwin should have been part of the playing XI. One of the senior members of the present team, Ashwin played the World Test Championship final but has been on the bench since then.
Ravindra Jadeja, who only played one Test match on the previous tour, is being used as the first-choice spinner and is likely to return home after playing all five fixtures.
Sharing his take on India’s playing XI, former England opener Nick Compton has opined that R Ashwin has been kept out of the playing XI due to personal issues with skipper Virat Kohli.
“Please can someone explain how Kohli obvious personal issues with Ashwin are allowed to cloud an obvious selection issue? #india,” wrote Compton, who was part of the squad which defeated India in the 2012 Test series.
Ashwin has been India’s front line spinner since his debut. He has been dropped from the playing XI in overseas conditions but has never spent such a long time on the bench.
While he is out of the playing XI in England, Ashwin will be leading the spin attack in the home series against New Zealand, which takes place later this year. In fact, a third spinner could also be part of playing XI on occasions.
