India Tour of England 2021 – First Test Match : The first test match of India vs England Test Series is to be played on 4 August. It was already anticipated by cricket fans that few changes will be made in India’s playing XI. India are playing their first test match after facing the defeat in the World Test Championship Final against New Zealand. Fans are shocked to know that R Ashwin has not been included in the playing XI vs England. Fans want to know the reason as to Why Ashwin is not playing in Ist test of India vs England.
India Team Management have made three changes to their Playing XI from the team which last played the World Test Championship final. KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur have been included in the starting XI vs England.
During the first day of the first Test India’s tour of England in Nottingham, England captain Joe Root won the toss and chose to bat.
Why is Ashwin not playing 1st Test between England and India ?
It was a surprising decision in the first test by Virat Kohli and Indian Team Management as they did not include spinner R Ashwin in the playing XI. The off spinner is one of the most crucial test players of India. He has picked 88 wickets in 19 Tests at an average and strike rate of 28.59 and 61.8 respectively including six five-wicket hauls, Ashwin is India’s highest wicket-taker against England among active players.
Kohli and India decided to go with Ravindra Jadeja as the only spinner in the first test match. Jadeja is also in good form with both ball and bat.
India’s senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also played in a county cricket match for Surrey before the Test series against England.
India vs England Ist Test Playing XI
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah
England Playing XI: Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Root(c), Jonny Bairstow, Daniel Lawrence, Jos Buttler(w), Sam Curran, Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
