In a shocking move, India made a couple of changes to their side in the fourth Test, dropping an in-form Mohammad Shami and Ishant Sharma to accommodate Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur. More to their woes, they also didn’t pick up Ashwin, who could have created a significant impact considering the surface of the Oval.
However, startling everyone was the fact that Team India still chose to drop Ashwin despite the opportunity to add an all-rounder in him.
Why everyone believed that Ashwin will start for India?
With the surface previously yielding results for the spinners, it was quite expected that Ashwin would have been a part of the squad. Sadly, for India, they chose to go with Jadeja as the solitary spinning option.
Experts predicted that Ashwin will be making his way into the team as he will add some valuable batting in the tail and will bring in some variety to trouble the English batters.
India wanted to find an extra batter in Shardul Thakur who has proven his worth in the Australia series both with the bat and the ball.
Michael Vaughan couldn’t believe that the off-spinner was excluded
Michael Vaughan was very unhappy with the exclusion of Ashwin as he was almost certain that he will be playing a crucial part in the fourth Test with India lagging in terms of some tail batting and a good spinner.
He was absolutely vocal about his opinion as he tweeted, “The non-selection of @ashwinravi99 has to be greatest NON selection we have ever witnessed across 4 Tests in the UK !!! 413 Test wickets & 5 Test 100s !!!! #ENGvIND Madness …”
The non selection of @ashwinravi99 has to be greatest NON selection we have ever witnessed across 4 Tests in the UK !!! 413 Test wickets & 5 Test 100s !!!! #ENGvIND Madness …
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) September 2, 2021
Ashwin played a match-defining knock against Australia Down Under, and his expertise was deemed important by several cricketing pundits if India had to remain in the series.
India drew first blood as they managed to defeat England at Lord’s. However, England came back strongly as they crushed India in the third Test at Headingley without any mercy.
This Test will be crucial for both sides as the outcome can shape the forthcoming distance for both India and England in the second edition of the World Test Championship.
