After India’s humiliating defeat in the third Test at Headingley, cricket fans and pundits was expecting veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s inclusion in the playing XI for the fourth Test, which got underway on Thursday (September 2) at the Oval.

However, Ashwin once again failed to get a place in the playing XI, having already missed out in the first three Tests. Fans and experts were surprised to not find the off-spinner in the side for the penultimate Test.

Amid the outrage, former England opener Nick Compton has alleged that Ashwin has been kept out of the playing XI due to personal issues with skipper Virat Kohli.

"Please can someone explain how Kohli obvious personal issues with Ashwin are allowed to cloud an obvious selection issue? #india," Compton tweeted.

Last month, Compton had hit out at Kohli for his aggressive attitude, terming the Indian captain as the “most foul-mouthed individual”.

Coming to the five-Test series, it is currently tied at 1-1. While the first Test ended in a draw at Trent Bridge, India won the second game at Lord’s to take a lead before England bounced back to win at Headingley.

In the ongoing fourth Test at the Oval, the visitors are in driver’s seat at stumps on Day 3, having secured a second-innings lead of 171 runs with seven wickets in hand.