Why India made a huge mistake by leaving Ravichandran Ashwin out of WTC final against Australia

India’s puzzling decision to leave veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin out of their XI for the World Test Championship final backfired in spectacular fashion, with Australia assuming control after day one at The Oval in London.

Travis Head plundered a century off just 106 balls, finishing unbeaten on 146 at stumps, with the Aussies in command at 3/327.

Steve Smith is also 95 not out, with Pat Cummins’ men poised to make an imposing first innings score after losing the toss and being sent into bat on a green deck tipped to be a fast bowler’s paradise – but not much good for spinners.

Travis Head plundered a century off just 106 balls, finishing unbeaten on 146 at stumps at The Oval in London

But the glaring omission of Ashwin, 36, so often Australia’s tormentor-in-chief, was a major talking point.

India’s pace attack, led by Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, looked weary and it was left to spin all-rounder Ravi Jadeja to ease their bowling load.

To make matters worse, the wicket – while difficult to play on early in the contest – soon settled down and became predictable, according to Aussie great turned commentator Ricky Ponting.

‘All the life has gone out of this wicket,’ he said on Channel Seven’s coverage. 

‘It’s always a very difficult decision to drop a champion bowler like that,’ Paras Mhambrey, India’s bowling coach, conceded.

‘But looking at the (cool) conditions in the morning, I thought having the additional seamer would definitely be beneficial – and it also has worked in the past.

Champion Australian batsman Steve Smith also looked in ominous touch, and was 95 not out at the close of play

‘If you look at the earlier games that we played – the last Test match we went in with four seamers, which really did well.

‘You can always look at hindsight, saying an additional spinner would have been a different.’

Despite Head and Smith’s 251-run partnership, Mhambrey remains adamant the Indians can bounce back and win the Test.

‘Yes, why not? The second new ball, we saw the ball was getting a little seam, it was getting cut,’ he said.

‘The next session will be important for us. If we take a few wickets quickly, then definitely we have an opportunity to get back in the game.’

Play continues from 7.30pm on Thursday (AEST).