END vs IND: Twitter upset with Ashwin's exclusion from second Test

Before the start of second Test, many speculated that Ravichandran Ashwin will get a game in Lords after Shardul Thakur was ruled out, leaving a vacant all-rounder's spot. However, Virat Kohli followed the same template of going in with four pacers and went in with Ishant Sharma as the fourth seamer.

Ashwin’s name was doing the rounds and experts like VVS Laxman and Aakash Chopra included him in their predicted playing XI’s, owing to the depth he provides in the batting and bowling department. As soon as the fans found that Ashwin’s was not playing, they lost their cool and took to Twitter to vent out their frustration. The off-spinner had finished World Test Championship (WTC) cycle as the highest wicket-taker with 71 wickets to his name.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan took to Twitter and wrote No Ashwin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! While another fan wrote "After all these years of consistent performance, is this how we treat our no.1 spinner? It's seriously a disrespect and injustice to his career and achievements. How can he be sidelined this way".

No Ashwin !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 12, 2021

Ashwin watching Moeen Ali and Jadeja play at Lord's pic.twitter.com/iaPic46O3W

— The Joker 🃏 (@Joker122018) August 12, 2021

Don't understand how Ishant merits a place and Ashwin doesn't! #ViratKohli things.

— Sanjeev 🎙️✍️ #MaskUp 😷 (@worldofsanjeev) August 12, 2021

Why is @ashwinravi99 not in the team consecutively for the 2nd #INDvENG test?
After all these years of consistent performance, is this how we treat our no.1 spinner?
It's seriously a disrespect and injustice to his career and achievements. How can he be sidelined this way.

— Kautilya Jha (@KautilyaJ070602) August 12, 2021

#ENGvsIND #INDvENG Virat Kohli and Toss are in a complicated relationship since long ago. On every big occassion or knockout matches, he loses the Toss. No ASHWIN again. Painful to see. No interest to see match now. Biggest matcg winner is sitting on the bench

— MOHD FUZAIL AHMAD (@mohdfuzailahmad) August 12, 2021

Ashwin to Virat Kohli.#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/9HHWuQVVCl

— legendrock31 (@Munnaaaaahhhhh) August 12, 2021

Meanwhile, former India batter VVS Laxman is also baffled by the exclusion of Ashwin and feels the spinner is unlikely to play Test for India in near future.

"Ashwin gets that variety in the bowling attack and has got an abundance of experience," VVS Laxman said. "It is clear from what Virat Kohli said in Nottingham that he wants to continue with this template. I think it is clear that Ashwin will have to wait for his time. If Ashwin isn't playing in these conditions, I don't see him getting in the XI."

There is  some good news for England fans as well as James Anderson has attained full fitness and is playing the second Test. He has Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson for the company in the pace attack. Meanwhile, Moeen Ali has replaced Dan Lawrence and Haseeb Hameed has replaced Zak Crawley in the team. The match got underway as England opted to bowl first after winning the toss.