'You need spin on the fourth and fifth day' - Aakash Chopra rues the absence of Ravichandran Ashwin from the Indian side

One absentee from the Indian playing XI for the second Test at Lord’s who has grabbed the attention is spin bowling legend Ravichandran Ashwin. The Tamil Nadu cricketer was left out of the Indian side for the second Test match in a row.

Former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra reckons that the pitch at Lord’s is getting slower as the match progresses, and the edges from the bat are also not carrying to the fielder as well.

Chopra further opined that the Indian side will surely need their spinners on the fourth and fifth days of the second Test at Lord’s.

“You have not played Ashwin and this pitch is getting slower. The edges are also not carrying and that’s another thing that is going to be a regular feature of this Test match that the pitch is getting slower and slightly lower. You need spin on the fourth and fifth day, it is almost certain,” said Aakash Chopra on his YouTube Channel.

None of the four fast bowlers picked by the Indian side can bat: Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra further reckoned that the Indian side cannot expect a lot of runs with the bat from the likes of Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ishant Sharma. Chopra concluded by stating that this can be a factor that might come back to bite the Virat Kohli-led Indian side.

“Let’s be fair, let’s be honest, the tail was too long. Shami, Siraj, Bumrah, Ishant — I mean you don’t expect a lot of runs. So, it has come back to bite you because none of the four fast bowlers you played bat,” concluded Aakash Chopra.

England ended Day 2 with their scoreboard reading 119/3. While Rory Burns scored 49 at the top of the order, England skipper Joe Root is still out in the middle and has scored 48*. India scored 364 runs in their first innings, with opener KL Rahul stealing the limelight by scoring a sensational 250-ball 129.

The five-match Test series between England and India is currently level at 0-0, as the first Test at Nottingham resulted in a draw.