The veteran Indian spinner, R Ashwin hasn’t been included in the playing XI for the final Test match of India’s tour of England as the visitors opted to play four fast bowlers and one spin-bowling allrounder in Ravindra Jadeja. In the overcast conditions at Edgbaston, stand-in skipper, Jasprit Bumrah came out and said that India will be playing a bowling attack of Mohammed Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and the captain Bumrah himself.
Apart from the four pacers, India has Ravindra Jadeja, who has had a good showing in Test cricket. The selection came with criticism from a section of fans, who expected the off-spinner to get a game in Edgbaston, a ground that historically aids spin conditions. However, it needs to be noted that on the day, overcast conditions and the prediction of rain could have influenced the call of the Indian management.
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It was expected that the Indian team to pick a couple of spinners for the final Test match, with R Ashwin expected to be leading the attack which would have comprised of Jadeja and Hanuma Vihari, if needed. Ahead of the match, England all-rounder and local lad Moeen Ali had predicted Ashwin will be featuring in the playing XI stating that Birmingham had been quite sunny for the last few days.
Reacting to the selection call of Team India, former England skipper, Michael Vaughan expressed that it was ridiculous to not play the veteran spinner.
No @ashwinravi99 !!!! Ridiculous .. #ENGvIND
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 1, 2022
Slightly disappointing to see Ashwin left out once again.
— Kieran (@BerbaSpinCric) July 1, 2022
The first Test XI of the #BumrahBall era is a cautious, even defensive one.
Cheteshwar Pujara opening, Hanuma Vihari at 3, Mayank Agarwal not selected, and Shardul Thakur preferred once again to R Ashwin.
India trying to meet fire with ice, it seems.#ENGvIND🏏🏴🇮🇳#WTC23
— Nakul Pande (@NakulMPande) July 1, 2022
After winning the toss, India was asked to bat first by Ben Stokes, and they took advantage of the overcast conditions to pick a couple of wickets in the first 20 overs.
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Returning to the Test fold, James Anderson was on song removing openers Shubman Gill and then Cheteshwar Pujara early in the day, before the play was halted due to rain. At the time of writing an early lunch has been taken after playing 20.1 overs with India at 53/2.
