The ongoing Oval test is a must win match for the Indian team if they want to level the series but the manner in which the Indians bowled in England’s second innings has left fans and many former cricketers upset.
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced his disappointment with India’s tactical approach during the final Test of the England series. With the match finely poised, England needing 35 runs and India four wickets on the fifth day, Ashwin pointed out what he sees as crucial lapses in strategic thinking, especially during the crucial 195-run stand between Joe Root and Harry Brook on Day 4.
While India managed a late comeback to keep their hopes alive, Brook and Root’s centuries had momentarily put England on top in their chase of 374. Their dismissals late in the day swung the momentum back toward India but Ashwin believes much of the damage had already been done by that point due to poor on-field decisions.
Ravichandran Ashwin questioned why Washington Sundar was not introduced into the attack earlier when Harry Brook began dominating the pacers. He said the failure to act sooner reflected a broader issue with tactical sharpness. According to him, the lack of timely intervention allowed England to build their stand unchecked.
The former Indian spinner felt Washington Sundar could have been used to apply pressure and restrict scoring, especially after Brook crossed the 20-run mark. In his view, pairing a spinner with a pacer could have controlled the run flow and forced a mistake from the batters. Ashwin was clear that such a tactical delay was a significant lapse and he wondered whether communication between the dressing room and players in the middle was clear or even happening.
Ashwin also pointed out that spin had been underutilised throughout the match. Up to this stage in England’s second innings, India have bowled 76.2 overs, of which only eight were shared between Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja. In the first innings, Sundar wasn’t used at all and Jadeja bowled merely two overs.
He expressed belief in Shubman Gill’s potential as a future captain but emphasised that leadership also demands strong game sense. Suggesting that overconfidence in handling spin might be leading to its delayed use, Ashwin warned that missing such key moments turns spin from a weapon into a defensive fallback.
As the fifth day unfolds at The Oval, with England eyeing a 3-1 series win and India seeking to salvage pride, the final session will be not just about execution but also about whether India can finally respond tactically to the challenge.
All the best team India!
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