Team members split over Ravichandran Ashwin's performance in the fourth Test

India’s ace off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin was dropped for the final Test against England. It is believed that the injury he had sustained during the third Test was the primary reason for his omission from the XI. Despite this injury, he continued to play in the fourth Test of the series.

In favourable conditions in that game, the 31-year-old failed terribly with the ball on the same pitch where his counterpart Moeen Ali excelled. Hence, he received severe criticism for not landing the ball in the right areas and for letting the team down. The injury that he carried into the fourth Test could have possibly affected his performance.

Now, the contradictory statements passed by the Indian head coach Ravi Shastri and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane after the match is stirring up a major controversy. Both of these men had different stands of Ashwin’s performance. While the former bashed the off-spinner for his show, the latter said that he bowled really well.

Lack of clarity among the team members?

Coach Ravi Shastri launched a direct assault on Ashwin in the media conference. “It was very straightforward, very simple, Moeen hit those patches that Ashwin didn’t, it’s as simple as that,” the 56-year-old stated. Furthermore, he deemed Ashwin as ‘fit’ for the fifth Test. However, the off-spinner looked to be in discomfort bowling in the nets. He just bowled a single delivery before he did a few fitness drills under the watchful eyes of physio Patrick Farhat and trainer Shankar Basu.

On the other hand, the Indian vice-captain had a completely different version of the story. “Ashwin played the last Test and he bowled and fielded really well. Patrick will be in a better position to elaborate on his fitness situation,” Rahane said after one of the practice sessions. Apart from Rahane, Chesteshwar Puajara also defended Ashwin after the poor show in Southampton.

With this statement being in sharp contrast with the one of the Indian coach, there are several questions that are arising. There is absolutely no clarity about the exact situation and Ashwin’s fitness. It is indeed quite a sad end to Ravichandran Ashwin’s England tour after he started off on a really promising note. He picked 11 wickets in the series which is the highest among the spinners.

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