Surrey has Ravichandran Ashwin in their crew to confront Somerset on Sunday, having marked the incredible India spinner on a one-match deal. 

Ashwin comes in for New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson, whose short Surrey spell ended a game early by a glute injury in the draw against Hampshire. 

Surrey is likewise without Ollie Pope, who is out until August with a grade three thigh strain, Will Jacks, who is with the England ODI team for their series against Pakistan. 

The 34 years old is a fine signing by Alec Stewart and his crew. He has 413 Test wickets, and also five centuries. 

Ashwin was hanging tight for a work visa for his participation in the championship to get confirmed, as recently detailed by ESPNcricinfo. Notwithstanding, both Surrey and Ashwin were very sure that they would get a green sign about the same before the match against Somerset. Following this match against Somerset, Ashwin will get back to India’s Test team in front of their matches against England. 

Ashwin has recently played country cricket for Worcestershire and Nottinghamshire and will utilize the fixture as a warm-up for India’s five-Test series against England in August. 

Must Read: Ollie Pope ruled out of action until the beginning of the 1st England-India Tests due to a thigh injury

“I’m so honored to have the batch on. I have heard and wondered what the London countries are all about. Despite the fact that it’s only for the game, I am delighted to share this dressing room,” said Ashwin. 

The contest will give Ashwin valuable match practice before the five-Test series against India beginning August 4. The Oval will have the fourth game of the India-England series. 

He will likewise be a helpful mentor for Amar Virdi, the youth Surrey off-spinner who has spent time in the England bubble in the course of the last year and will come up against Jack Leach, who is back in Somerset’s squad. 

Somerset topped the Championship’s Group 2 going into the final round of fixtures. Surrey needs a far-reaching triumph, and to hope that Gloucestershire’s gathering with Hampshire turns out well for them, to sneak into Division One. 

Ravichandran Ashwin’s successful run in the WTC cycle

Ashwin wrapped up the 2019-2021 cycle of the World Test Championship as the leading wicket-taker, scalping 71 wickets under his sleeves. The off-spinners 71st wicket came when he sent Devon Conway in the inaugural final of the World Test Championship. However India wasn’t sufficient when it came to bowling, Ashwin looked great on the ground giving the first breakthroughs to India in the final. 

Ashwin has secured 4 five-wicket pulls in the 2019-2021 WTC cycle, which radiates his sheer flair. Behind him is the Australian pacer Pat Cummins who has gotten 70 wickets. India is presently good to go to start their second cycle of the WTC as they face England in the five-match Test series, which will begin in August. It would subsequently be fascinating to see the bowling line-up of India in front of this challenge thinking about the English conditions. 

As of now, India has no tour games scheduled before the Tests. Team India is right now on a break after their defeat in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand last month. Ashwin was the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 71 wickets from 14 Tests at an average of 20.33. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has asked the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to arrange a training game before the first Test gets in progress. 

While addressing the media in the virtual press conference toward the end of the Test Championship final against New Zealand, Kohli had said his side needed five-star games in front of the series against England, however, they have not been given that.