Before the second Test between India and England at Edgbaston starting July 2, veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin made a significant statement defending Team India’s bowlers. After England successfully chased a target of 371 runs to win the first Test by 5 wickets, many commentators criticized the Indian bowling attack. However, Ashwin disagreed with this narrative.

Ashwin’s take on the commentary

On his official YouTube channel, Ashwin said the criticism of Indian bowlers was unfair. He pointed out that chasing big totals in the fourth innings in England has become quite common in recent years. He added that if one studies the trend, it’s clear that such successful chases are happening frequently, and the commentary during the match overlooked this fact.

What happened in the first Test?

In the first Test, Jasprit Bumrah was the standout bowler for India in the first innings, taking 5 wickets. However, in England’s second innings, no Indian bowler managed to pick up a wicket. While the Indian batsmen put up a solid fight, the bowlers could not restrict England from chasing down the target.

Series situation and what's next

England leads the five-match Test series 1-0. For India to stay alive and mount a comeback, winning the second Test is crucial. The Indian bowling unit will need to deliver a strong and aggressive performance to challenge England’s batsmen and regain the momentum in the series.