 "Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja")
Ravichandran Ashwin left for home in Chennai on Friday, February 16, after the second day's play in the third Test between India and England, which took place at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. This has made India's team balance lopsided as they will miss their most potent weapon with the ball and an experienced batter later on with the bat.
Check India vs England 3rd Test Day 4 live score and match updates here
Why did Ashwin leave the third Test?
According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Ashwin left the match in between due to a family health emergency. He won't be able to take any further part as far as the third Test is concerned. Read more about it here.
Will India get a substitute for Ashwin?
India will get a substitute for Ashwin, but that substitute can only field. He can neither bowl nor bat for the team. According to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which makes the rules of cricket, in case a player gets absent during a Test for reasons other than concussion, there is no like-for-like substitution.
Article 24.1 of MCC rules, which relate to substitute fielders, clearly mentions that with a satisfactory reason presented to them, the umpires shall allow a fielder to substitute a team member. But he shall neither bat nor bowl. He can plate as a wicket-keeper, though, if required.
How will Ashwin's availability impact changes in Team India?
Ashwin scored crucial 37 runs and had a vital 77-run stand with debutant wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel in the Rajkot Test. He also showed determination with the bat in the Hyderabad Test, where India eventually lost.
Batting aside, Ashwin was Indian skipper Rohit Sharma's go-to man with the ball, which was evident on Day 2 as well. He broke the 89-run opening stand between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett to get his 500th Test wicket.
Thus, India will probably miss their most important member of the match. Hence, it is a massive blow to their chances of winning the Test and taking a 2-1 lead in the series.
Players in the Indian team who can bowl in third Test vs England
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Jasprit Bumraj
Mohammed Siraj
Kuldeep Yadav
Ravindra Jadeja
Can Ashwin come back in the Rajkot Test?
Can Ashwin come back in the Rajkot Test?
Dinesh Karthik, an Indian wicket-keeper batter, while on commentary for the broadcasters of the third Test, informed that Ashwin can join the team anytime during the Rajkot Test. There will be no penalty for him given his special case (family medical emergency).
What doe the MCC laws say?
24.1.3 of the MCC laws says that a nominated player may bowl or field even though a substitute has previously acted for him/her, subject to 24.2, 24.3 and Law 42.4 (Level 3 offences and action by umpires). Thus it is clearly up to the umpires if they wish to allow Ashwin to play further in the game.
Though Ashwin has been released from the squad entirely and since it is a medical emergency, it is highly unlikely that he will be joining the team any time soon or at least in the match. However, if he wishes to, there is a possibility that he can.
