Bad News For Aakash Chopra Fans: India and England will battle out at Edgbaston, Birmingham, from July 1, for the fifth and last Test of the unfinished series from last year, in which India currently lead 2-1. The fifth Test in Manchester was postponed after India pulled out due to a covid-19 outbreak in their camp.
Both the teams have new captains than they were in those four Tests last year: Virat Kohli and Joe Root stepped down from their respective positions earlier this year with Rohit Sharma and Ben Stokes, respectively, taking the role. This will also be the first time Sharma will be leading India outside India in Tests.
No Aakash Chopra in the commentary team: Reports
The commentary panel has been announced by the broadcasters. Renowned Twitter user, CricCrazyJohns has reported that Aakash Chopra, one of the most followed and respected pundits and commentators, will not be commentating during the India-England Edgbaston Test.
Here is the commentary panel for the Test match:
David Gower, Graeme Swann, Virender Sehwag, Ashish Nehra, Ajit Agarkar, Mohammad Kaif, Ajay Jadeja, Sanjay Manjrekar, Saba Karim, Vivek Razdan.
Former English batting greats Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton will be covering the match from the ground while Harsha Bhogle is finalized as the host of the show, Johns said.
The commentators for India vs England series:
David Gower, Graeme Swann, Virender Sehwag, Ashish Nehra, Ajit Agarkar, Mohammad Kaif, Ajay Jadeja, Sanjay Manjrekar, Saba Karim, Vivek Razdan.
Nasser Hussain & Mike Atherton from the ground.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 22, 2022
Harsha anchor like he did in Australia Tests.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 22, 2022
R Ashwin missed flight due to covid, KL Rahul ruled out
Meanwhile, senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin didn’t board his flight to the UK on June 16 along with other members, because he had tested positive for Covid-19. Cricbuzz has reported that Ashwin is “expected to fly out in the next 24 hours, most probably on Wednesday” and may join the squad in Leicester before the four-day warm-up game against the county team which begins on June 24.
One of India’s greatest off-spinner, Ashwin didn’t play a single of the four Tests vs England in England last year as Ravindra Jadeja played as the sole spinner while Shardul Thakur played as the bowling all-rounder.
Also, KL Rahul, who was named the vice-captain, is ruled out of the entire England tour due to a groin injury that he sustained prior to the South Africa T20Is, and will fly to Germany for treatment.
