‘It’s good to have independent thinkers’ – Nick Compton again taunts Virat Kohli for benching Ravi Ashwin

India have certainly tightened their grip over the ongoing fourth Test match against England at the Kennington Oval in London. On Day 4, the visitors batted brilliantly and posted a mountain of 466 runs. As the Three Lions had a first-innings lead of 99 runs, they have been asked to chase 368 for victory in the crucial contest. Although India’s defeat is highly unlikely from this point, they still need to take 10 wickets to win this contest.

Notably, the Kennington Oval track has constantly gotten better with time. Owing to the same, most of the Indian batters got runs in the third innings. Hence, the visiting team bowlers need to put up an exceptional effort to take their side over the line. While India still have enough time to take 10 wickets, former England batter Nick Compton feels this game is advancing to a draw.

He expressed the same through a post on Twitter. The 38-year-old also asserted India’s bowling attack will struggle as apart from speedster Bumrah, there’s no impactful bowler. While giving his opinion, Compton yet again taunted Virat Kohli for keeping veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the benches. Suggesting Ashwin would have help India, Compton took a sly dig at Kohli, saying he should allow ‘independent thinkers’ in the team.

Nick Compton feels the fourth Test advancing towards a draw

“Can’t see this being anything other than a draw! India’s bowling apart from Bumrah will struggle. If only Ashwin was playing… oh Kohli it’s good to have independent thinkers in your team,” tweeted Compton.

Can’t see this being anything other than a draw! India’s bowling apart from Bumrah will struggle. If only Ashwin was playing… oh Kohli it’s good to have independent thinkers in your team

— Nick Compton (@thecompdog) September 5, 2021

Notably, this is not the first time when Compton has slammed Kohli over Ashwin’s exclusion. On September 2, the former England international claimed the Indian skipper is keeping the veteran off-spinner out due to ‘obvious personal issues.’

“Please can someone explain how Kohli obvious personal issues with Ashwin are allowed to cloud an obvious selection issue? #india,” he had tweeted.

Please can someone explain how Kohli obvious personal issues with Ashwin are allowed to cloud an obvious selection issue? #india

— Nick Compton (@thecompdog) September 2, 2021

For the unversed, Ashwin hasn’t featured in the first four Tests as India have gone for a four-man pace attack. With the 34-year-old being arguably the best spinner at the moment, many fans and experts aren’t happy with India’s strategy. Nevertheless, the fifth and final Test is in Manchester where the ball is known to spin. Hence, it will be interesting to see if Ashwin gets a match there or not.