Ravichandran Ashwin’s exclusion from the playing XI of the Indian side for the ongoing series has become one of the most talked-about topics in the cricket fraternity. R Ashwin, who is the world’s number 2 bowler, is yet to make an appearance in the ongoing 5-match Test series against England.
He was expected to finally appear in the 4th Test match, however, he was once again snubbed by the Indian side. Several cricketers and experts around the world have criticized the decision of the Indian team management and the latest one to join the bandwagon is former Australian bowling icon, Shane Warne.
Shane Warne is not at all happy with the decision of the Indian side for R Ashwin’s non-inclusion into the Indian playing XI. While commentating on day 1, Shane Warne called it a stubborn decision by India. He also stated that the England cricket team is a more balanced team as compared to the Indian side. Warne reckoned that he would have picked Ashwi if he was the skipper. He said
“Stubborn it is a terrific word Nasser used. I think it is exactly that. If you look at those two sides and England have got such a more well-balanced team than India do with that tail.
I would have played R Ashwin. It is going to turn here, you don’t pick a side just for the first innings, it will turn. Plus, he’s got five Test hundreds, you’re playing a batsman as well as someone who can bowl,”
Earlier, Shane Warne had even questioned R Ashwin’s exclusion from the playing XI during the second Test match at the Lords. He had tweeted that a side should always play a spinner in a Test match, irrespective of the conditions. He had tweeted:
“A spinner turning the game !!!! Surprise surprise, this is why you always play a spinner no matter what the conditions ! Remember you don’t pick a team just for the first innings. Spin to win,”
Here, check out the Tweet:
A spinner turning the game !!!! Surprise surprise, this is why you always play a spinner no matter what the conditions ! Remember you don’t pick a team just for the first innings. Spin to win @SkyCricket
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) August 15, 2021
Talking about the ongoing match, the Indian cricket team was bundled up for 191 runs on the board in the first innings, with the Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Shardul Thakur contributing with their respective half-centuries. The England cricket team posted a target of 290 runs for the Indian side after their first innings.
