'India missed a trick by not playing Ashwin' - Aakash Chopra

Cricketer turned expert Aakash Chopra feels that Virat Kohli missed a trick by not playing Ravichandran Ashwin at Lords. Shardul Thakur had left a vacant spot in the Indian playing XI after suffering a hamstring injury and many speculated that India might go in with Ashwin due to his additional abilities with the bat. India, however, opted for the fourth seamer and went in with Ishant Sharma.

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“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,” Chopra said in a video shared on his Youtube channel.

The pitch at Lords has started deteriorating. Moeen Ali got some deliveries to turn sharply on Day 2 and Chopra feels batting against spinners in the fourth innings would have been a nightmare for England if India had gone in with Ravichandran Ashwin.

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“You have not played Ravichandran 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,” explained.

While India still is in a great position, the hosts fought back hard on Day 2. England bowlers did well to restrict India for 364 before gritty knocks from Joe Root and Rory Burns helped England to close the day at 119/3 after being jolted by early blows.

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