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Eng vs Ind: R Ashwin Seems Doubtful For The First Test
By CricShots - Jul 27, 2018 1:09 pm
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The injury concerns in Team India seems to be increasing each passing week in England. It all started with Jasprit Bumrah suffering a fractured thumb followed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar aggravating his back injury and now the list of injuries has one more inclusion and he is none other than the premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

R Ashwin during the practice session

Ashwin is yet to play a part in the ongoing three-day warm-up match against Essex in which only one day is left as he picked up a niggle in his right hand during practice. He has been in the news in recent times with pundits calling for the inclusion of the young duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal even in the longer format of the game. While Yadav is in the squad for the England series, Chahal is yet to receive his maiden Test call-up. 

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However, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly has supported Ashwin and said that the spinner cannot be allowed to fade away so easily. Ganguly said, “You can’t let Ashwin fade away so quickly, because 300 wickets is not a matter of joke. Ashwin has a place in the side. He will reinvent himself because he feels challenged, he knows Kuldeep is up for his Test spot. You saw the leg spin in the IPL, he will get better and he deserves a lot more opportunities.”

ashwin
R Ashwin played county cricket as well last year

India were made to sweat by Essex who reached 237-5 on Day at Chelmsford on Thursday with their discomfort under hot day compounded by fears over the fitness of Ashwin. Virat Kohli and his team are playing their only warm-up match before the Test series against England get under way next Wednesday were dismissed for 395 after resuming on 322-6.

The home team then reached 237-5 at stumps on Day 2 after half-centuries from Tom Westley (57) and Michael Pepper (68).

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Dinesh Karthik top-scored with 82 for India having failed to add to his overnight score while Hardik Pandya hit 51. On Wednesday, Kohli scored 68 while KL Rahul (58) and Murali Vijay (53) also spent time in the middle.

The first Test begins in Birmingham on August 1 and spinners are likely to play a key role, considering the hot conditions, suitable for Indian bowlers.