County Championship 2021: Ravichandran Ashwin named in Surrey's 13-man squad for encounter against Somerset

There were a lot of speculations on the Indian spinner Ravichandra Ashwin playing in the County Championship before India’s five-match Test series against England. However, to put an end to all the questions swirling in the wind, Surrey has named a 13-man squad for their game against Somerset and Ashwin is all set to join the group for this match.

Ravichandran Ashwin is set to replace New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson who is out of the game owing to an injury. After getting the confirmation about the fact that Jamieson wouldn’t be further able to play, Director of Cricket Alec Stewart began the process of recruiting Ashwin for this fixture. With 413 Test wickets in 79 matches, Ashwin has a plethora of experience that would be of great benefit for the young Somerset’s spin bowlers Amar Virdi and Daniel Moriarty.

Ashwin was waiting for a work visa for his participation in the championship to get confirmed, as previously reported by ESPNcricinfo. However, both Surrey and Ashwin were quite confident that they would get a green signal about the same before the match against Somerset kick starts. Following this match against Somerset, Ashwin will return to India’s Test squad ahead of their matches against England.

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-spinner’s 71^st wicket came when he sent back Devon Conway in the inaugural final of the World Test Championship. Though India wasn’t up to the mark when it came to bowling, Ashwin looked good on the ground giving the first breakthroughs to India in the final.

Ashwin has secured four five-wicket hauls in the 2019-2021 WTC cycle, which exudes his sheer flair. Behind him is the Australian pacer Pat Cummins who has secured 70 wickets. India is now all set to begin their second cycle of the WTC as they face England in the five-match Test series, which will start in August. It would thus be interesting to see the bowling line-up of India ahead of this challenge considering the English conditions.