I feel really sorry for Ravi Ashwin because of being in that position and left out: Laxman Sivaramakrishnan

India is up against England in a five-match Test series where the visitors have already taken up a 1-0 lead. The great contest produced by the bowlers and India’s tail stunned hosts at Lord’s and they went on to win the competition by 151 runs. However, if there is one major talking point in the series, it is the exclusion of ace spinner Ravi Ashwin.

It has to be noted that India is currently going with a combination of four pacers and a lone spinner in form of Ravindra Jadeja who provides enough depth in the batting as well. Ashwin who has flaunted his class in the purest format of the game on innumerable occasions is finding it hard to get into India’s XI as the English conditions are supporting pace. It was seen during the Lord’s Test even as all 20 wickets went in the account of pacers only.

In the same line of events, former cricketer and commentator Laxman Sivaramakrishnan added that he feels ‘sorry’ for Ashwin but it is highly unlikely that India would change its combination going into the Leeds Test. The Leeds Test begins on August 25 and experts assume that India will go unchanged with its winning combination.

Ravi Ashwin with his intelligence will understand what he needs to be in the team: Laxman Sivaramakrishnan

“I feel really sorry for Ashwin because being in that position and being left out of the side is a hard thing to digest. But I think he’s taking it pretty well, and also in a way he’s not being played in England and over bowled,” said Sivaramakrishnan in a virtual interaction with journalists on Sony Sports Network.

“Getting wickets in Test match cricket is totally different. It’s like Ranji Trophy and Test match cricket if you compare County and Test cricket. And I’m sure Ashwin with his intelligence will understand what he needs to do to get into the team. There’s plenty of cricket coming ahead. Even in India, we’re going to be playing a lot of matches. So I think Ashwin would be a definite part of the team once they decide to go in with two spinners,” he added.