Why is Ravichandran Ashwin not playing today’s first Test between West Indies and India?

Ravichandran Ashwin not playing today’s first: India haven’t included their premier off-spinner in their playing XI for the first Test.

During the first Test of the ongoing India’s tour of West Indies at Antigua, India have not included premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin into the playing XI. While it appeared that no play would have been possible in the first session, the weather eventually cleared for play to take place.

Ashwin last played a Test during the tour of Australia. The 32-year old cricketer was injured during the tour and ended up taking no further part in it. The same was the case with him during the tour of England last year. Considering Ashwin’s record against West Indies, no watching him play surely came as a surprise.

Big call not to play Ashwin. But not entirely a surprise

— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) August 22, 2019

In 11 Tests against West Indies, Ashwin has scored 552 runs at an average of 50.18 including four centuries. Ashwin has also picked 60 wickets against West Indies at an average of 21.85, an economy rate of 21.85 and a strike rate of 43.6.

Ravichandran Ashwin not playing today’s first

It was West Indies captain Jason Holder who won the toss and chose to field. “We will field first. Some moisture in the wicket and we want to take advantage.

“We have had some solid preparations and are looking forward to this. Every series is a new series, need to do our best. We have a new guy, Shamarh Brooks, who makes his Test debut for us,” Holder was quoted as saying during the toss.

Ashwin-Kuldeep both miss out. I’m surprised. By am I the only one? Only one proper spinner in Jadeja?? India wanted to bowl last…and will still be bowling last. Interesting choice to have Vihari as the second spin option… #WIvIND

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 22, 2019

“We were batting first anyway, look to put runs on the board and then attack with the ball. We know what to do in the middle, need to play consistent good cricket, no room for complacency. Mayank [Agarwal] and KL [Rahul] will open in this series.

We are going with the same side that played in Australia. [Ravichandran] Ashwin, [Wridhhiman] Saha, Kuldeep [Yadav], Rohit [Sharma] and Umesh [Yadav] are not playing,” Kohli was quoted as saying.

Kohli laying emphasis on continuing with the team which played the last Test in Australia appears to be the only reason behind benching Ashwin. Other than that, the Indian skipper didn’t speak anything about Ashwin.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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