So while all of India has been celebrating the incredible Indian win at The Oval, we need to enjoy the success but also question the wrong things that have happened off the field and introspect for the better of the game. From my reading, the biggest blunder that India and Virat Kohli have done is exclude Ravichandran Ashwin from the playing 11 in the series so far. The 4th test at The Oval was really a time when I thought Ashwin would get a go ahead but he didn't! And to my surprise and to others as well, there was no compelling reason to drop Ashwin ahead of Ravindra Jadeja.
I would like to list all the things that are wrong with the politics of play here and you can figure out for yourself why I have such a compelling case.
Ashwin is a way way better spinner than Jadeja anyday!
Jadeja maybe a slightly better batter but it will come at the cost of a quality fifth bowler. Jadeja is tight but he's not as good, nowhere near Ashwin.
Kohli has some issue with Ashwin and is mixing personal relations with professionalism. As we all have known in the past, Kohli does this a lot. He lets his emotion get in the way of professionalism.
Ravi Ashwin has had a county stint with Surrey and he's done reasonable well. He has experience bowling in English conditions.
Ashwin has a lot of variety in his bowling. Off spinner, doosra, carrom ball etc. It helps to have all of this in the chest when playing flat tracks.
England have 4 left handers in the side. It's a no brainer to pick Ashwin over Jadeja anyday!
Ashwin is actually a better batsman than Jadeja. He used to open batting for his state team. He may have a dip in form but he's a better batter overall.
I really hope the public takes note of this and start realizing all the negative things that are going on in Indian cricket right now. I know India has been winning matches but with the right combinations, India would have swept the series by now.