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The highly-anticipated fifth and final rescheduled Test between England and India started at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Friday. The visitors, who are leading the series 2-1, are looking for their first series win in England since 2007. Similarly, England, under the fresh leadership of Ben Stokes, are hoping to win the contest as well in order to draw the series.
The hosts, who had already announced their playing XI ahead of the match, won the toss and opted to bowl first. India, on the other hand, revealed their final XI at the time of the toss under the leadership of Jasprit Bumrah. Notably, Bumrah is leading the Indians in place of Rohit Sharma, who was ruled out of the contest due to COVID-19.
The tourists went with three pacers and two all-rounders, but unfortunately, Ravichandran Ashwin was not named in the final XI. India went with the all-rounder duo of Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja. The Indian team management decided to go with Jadeja instead of Ashwin, who ended up not featuring in the entire five-match series in England.
The news of Ashwin not getting a place in the final XI didn’t go down well with the fans on social media as they expressed their disappointment on the micro-blogging website Twitter.
Here is how Netizens reacted:
Ironical that the only continuity from #Ravishastri regime to #RahulDravid setup is #ravichandranashwin and not keeping him in the XI. #INDvsENG
— G. S. Vivek (@GSV1980) July 1, 2022
https://twitter.com/Arunsingh2207/status/1542829225316589570
No Ashwin 💔 ….. y? @Jaspritbumrah93 #RahulDravid #ravichandranashwin
— Vipul R Trivedi (@vipul_capri) July 1, 2022
Seems a bit lopsided – 4 pacers + Jadeja. Wud have been better to have Ashwin. https://t.co/W0L6PuBW8l
— Somnath Mukherjee (@somnath1978) July 1, 2022
So India's most successful test bowler from past decade, Ravichandran Ashwin will conclude 5 match test series in England without playing a single game!! Not sure what the logic here is, given that bloke can bat as well! Strange, just like Sanju's exclusions!#INDvENG #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/drtJlq3O7D
— Shambhu Nath Pradip (@2shambhunath) July 1, 2022
the pitch will have nothing for the seamers by day 2
regardless, benching a legend like @ashwinravi99 is criminal
poor decision-making @BCCI @Jaspritbumrah93 https://t.co/v9WBT9ceSR
— Red (@ogINFP) July 1, 2022
India's best bowler is still not playing. #RavichandranAshwin #INDvsENG #5thTest
— Uttaran Das (@das_uttaran) July 1, 2022
No ashwin 💔#INDvsENG #ravichandranashwin
— Gopi (@Gopi20852180) July 1, 2022
Ashwin should be there instead of shardul https://t.co/Qef47Tmpad
— Pragnesh Ptl🇮🇳 (@pragnesh4me) July 1, 2022
Big mistake.. @BCCI for not taking @ashwinravi99 for the #ENGvIND test..
— dr. dhruv (@dhruvjyoti0311) July 1, 2022
No #Ashwin ☹️ https://t.co/KOEwhKSgdG
— Rahul Mahajani (@rahul_mahajani) July 1, 2022
No Ashwin in playing 11. Lost the toss. Things not looking good https://t.co/3iwYuHy1UO
— Saha (@Saha_2206) July 1, 2022
