'Big mistake' - Twitter not impressed with India leaving out Ravi Ashwin for Birmingham Test

The much-awaited fifth and final rescheduled Test between England and India is underway at Edgbaston. The Indian team are eyeing their first series win at the England shores in 15 years. The coin toss went in favour of Ben Stokes, who opted to bowl first. But the big news at the toss was the omission of Ravichandran Ashwin from the Indian team. 

India opted to go with the all-rounder pair of Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja, who were part of the fourth Test at The Oval in 2021. Ashwin joined the team later than others because of Covid-19, but he was given the green light for the Test just in time. Jasprit Bumrah and the team management decided to go with Jadeja instead as the lone spinner on the team as he provides a batting cover to the team. This means that Ashwin has ended up not featuring in the entire five-match series in England.

India, quite reasonably, went for a batting-heavy team as they are missing two of their best batters in KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma. Cheteshwar Pujara will open the batting with Shubman Gill in the absence of Rohit. Mohammad Shami comes in place of Umesh Yadav, who bagged six wickets in the fourth Test back in 2021.

India (Playing XI): Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah (c)

The odds are stacked against the Indian team who are facing a resurgent England side led by Ben Stokes

England head into the crucial match as heavy favourites due to their hammering of the Kiwis in the recently concluded Test series. Buoyed by their recent whitewash against the Kiwis, the hosts will be high on confidence and will look to take advantage of an underprepared Indian side who are missing a couple of their star players.

In other news, veteran pacer James Anderson returns to the England side after being rested for the third Test against New Zealand. India will be wary of Jack Leach who showed tremendous control and application in the third Test and bagged an outstanding ten-wicket haul for the match. Sam Billings gets in the team ahead of Ben Foakes who was ruled out due to Covid-19.

Meanwhile, Twitter was yet again surprised with Ravi Ashwin not being in the playing XI and the fans were disappointed with the decision of the visitors.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Btw where's the shame Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli, for not playing Ravi Ashwin??? Ehhh.

Oh sorry… No Kohli-Shastri in power, no blame games. 🙈

— Jaanvi🏏 (@ThatCric8Girl) July 1, 2022

Hope propagradists will now understand that was not some ego issue of Virat Kohli for which he didn't select Ashwin in the XI during last series. It was based on sound Cricketing logic, which is now being used as a template even by Rahul Dravid himself.

— Ricky talks Cricket (@CricRicky) July 1, 2022

No Ashwin but you won't see any outrage because the Captain's name is not Virat Kohli.

— Sai Krishna💫 (@SaiKingkohli) July 1, 2022

I'm actually more surprised this time that Ashwin is not in the XI. Last year, you knew why he couldn't get a chance. This year, given how the pitch looks, thought he would make the XI at Edgbaston.

— Venkata Krishna B (@venkatatweets) July 1, 2022

Can't see boomer uncles tweets bashing bumrah – dravid and creating conspiracy theories for not playing ashwin

— A (@_shortarmjab_) July 1, 2022

The only contention I have with Ind’s XI is Ashwin not being there, despite the pitches in England assisting spin a lot more this season. Thakur leaks runs at 4 rpo mostly and India can’t afford that England’s counter attacking lower middle order.#ENGvIND

— Gaurav Nandan Tripathi (@Cric_Beyond_Ent) July 1, 2022

The holy journos gave their verdict that Kohli-Shastri doesn't like Ashwin… So either Dravid-Bumrah also have developed a dislike for the champion spinner or those journalists don't know a thing and feed on speculations.

— Suvajit Mustafi (@RibsGully) July 1, 2022

Big mistake.. @BCCI for not taking @ashwinravi99 for the #ENGvIND test..

— dr. dhruv (@dhruvjyoti0311) July 1, 2022

With the ball known to soft this wicket known to turn, india india should've played Ashwin? @ChatilPandi

— Cricket16 (@Cricket166) July 1, 2022