India's off-spinner R Ashwin hasn't featured in the first two matches of the ongoing Test series against England. He was expected to get included for the Lord's Test after Shardul Thakur was ruled out due to injury.

However, Ashwin couldn't get into the playing XI after India opted to go with four pacers and picked Ishant Sharma, who didn't play the first Test. The senior spinner has opened up on his exclusion from the side.

On his Youtube channel, Ashwin said the change in weather in London made Team India rest him for one more match in the series. He was all set for the match after the management confirmed his inclusion in playing XI.

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“The funny thing was, before the match, they were like, ‘There’s a heatwave. You please be ready mate. You might play.’ Upon coming to breakfast in the morning, rains started lashing out. I asked, ‘Won’t you tell about heatwave after it came? Why gave me hope only for it to end in disappointment!’,” he said.

After the toss at Lord's, India captain Virat Kohli had said Ashwin was in the shortlisted 12 but couldn't make it to the playing XI as they found four pacers in the side relevant. "We announced 12 within the group and Ashwin definitely was part of that. But this makes the most sense for us as a team. Everyone wants to contribute, it's about getting into the game as a batsman. 

"We just need to get the job done, whoever it is, that's our main focus. Especially with crowds back in, it's a pleasure to be here. An honour to play in front of crowds for what should be a cracker," he had said.