Ravichandran Ashwin thought that India could have used the spinners in a more calculating way in the current against England. While Ravindra Jadeja was the only spinner who played all the test matches, Washington Sundar played in three. Pols spinner Kuldeep Yadav Heated benches in all five games, something that loved few eyebrows.
Ashwin's comments came after Gill Spin used in just eight of the 76.2 overs in the second innings of England. The Tamil Nadu-Cricket player, who withdrew from the game halfway through the Border-Gavaksar trophy, Gambhir's lack of game consciousness, made the difference in the series.
“Coming to the subject of spinners that is not used, I felt in this series that there has been a lack of game consciousness and, in many respects, our tactical insight – both on and outside the field. This is the main reason why England is ahead in this series and India is behind.
In the fourth innings, 374 points chased, England started the fourth day on 50/1. They lost Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope early on the day before a 195-run position between Harry Brook and Joe Root changed the game into the favor of England.
India, however, came back in the game in the last play session after both Brook and root had left. England needed 35 runs to win, when poor light and rain stopped playing on the oval on day 4. India needs three wickets, when wounded Chris Woakes does not come out.
Shubman Gill misses the possibility to use spinners
The 38-year-old thought that Gill missed the right moment to introduce spinners in the oval test, especially against Brook and Root. “I feel that Shubman Gill as a captain will be much better. He will learn. But sometimes, if you feel that you can really run well, you may not put a spinners in the attack.
And when you miss the right time to introduce spinners in these circumstances, they become a defensive option, “Ashwin added. When Harry Brook started to record it, after 20 runs, you could have brought in the spinner to choke the runtrroom. A pacer could have been bent from the other end.
“Making these mistakes creates a huge gap. We don't know if the message goes from outside to the middle. We don't know what is being discussed in the dressing room. But in today's time these mistakes could certainly be avoided,” Ashwin added.
With new batters Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton in the middle, India will go all the way with their three-man tempo attack by Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. Although the target is small, the pressure on the players of England will be to cross the line.
