Can India Replace Ravichandran Ashwin With Another Player? What Does The Rule Book Say?

17.02.2024 - 03:25 sports.ndtv.com

India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin pulled of the squad for the third Test against England, currently being played in Rajkot, due to a family emergency.

The latest development came hours after Ashwin took his 500th Test wicket, only the second Indian to do so after the legendary Anil Kumble.

While the BCCI initially did not provide the reason behind Ashwin's decision, the board's Vice-President Rajeev Shukla revealed that the player's mother was facing the medical emergency. "Wishing speedy recovery of mother of @ashwinravi99 .

He has to rush and leave Rajkot test to Chennai to be with his mother," he posted on X (formerly Twitter). Wishing speedy recovery of mother of @ashwinravi99 .

cricket India Cricket Team England Cricket Team India vs England 2024 player Ravichandran Ashwin Anil Kumble India

India's spin veteran Ravichandran Ashwin on Thursday reached the milestone of 100 Test matches, with his appearance in the fifth and final game against England in Dharamshala. He was felicitated by India's head coach Rahul Dravid ahead of the game for achieveing the feat. Ashwin, who is one of the most successful all-rounders of the modern era, credited the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, besides thanking his family on playing playing the 100th Test of his career.

First Time In 92 Years: Ravichandran Ashwin Achieves Massive Feat In 100th Test

It was a massive occasion for veteran Indian cricket team spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as he played his 100th Test match as India took on England in the final game of the five-match series in Dharamsala on Thursday. Ashwin recently became the second India bowler ever to take 500 wickets in the longest format of the sport and as he took the field for his 100th Test, he made history by becoming the oldest India cricketer to achieve the milestone. Overall, Ashwin became the 14th India cricketer to play 100 Tests but the first one to do it after celebrating his 37th birthday. The others were - Sunil Gavaskar (125), Dilip Vengsarkar (116), Kapil Dev (131), Sachin Tendulkar (200), Anil Kumble (132), Rahul Dravid (164), Sourav Ganguly (113), VVS Laxman (134), Harbhajan Singh (103), Virender Sehwag (104), Ishant Sharma (105), Virat Kohli (113) and Cheteshwar Pujara (103).

Ravichandran Ashwin Recalls Devdutt Padikkal's "Physical Trauma" As Youngster Makes Test Debut

Youngster Devdutt Padikkal made his Test debut for India on Thursday in the Dharamshala match against England. The southpaw received his Test cap from Ravichandran Ashwin, who made 100th appearance in the format. Heaping praises on Padikkal, Ashwin advised the young batter to guard and cherish the moment and express himself on the ground. It is worth noting that left-handed batter Padikkal was included in India's playing XI as Rajat Patidar missed the final Test match against England due to injury.

India vs England 5th Test Day 1: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal Pummel England After Kuldeep Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin Spin Show

The fragility of England batters against high-quality spin was exposed once again before India showed them how to bat on a flat track by cruising to 135 for one at stumps on day one of the fifth and final Test in Dharamshala on Thursday. Opting to bat, England were all at sea against the mastery of left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav whose fourth five-wicket haul in Tests allowed India to bowl out the visitors for 218 in their first innings shortly after tea. Playing his 100th Test, R Ashwin cleaned up the tail with four wickets while Ravindra Jadeja took one. Contrary to expectations, all 10 wickets went to the spinners at the scenic HPCA Stadium and the last seven batsmen fell while adding only 43 runs.

Watch: Ravichandran Ashwin's Beautiful Moment With Rohit Sharma Amid 100th Test Guard Of Honour

Celebrating the landmark moment for Ravichandran Ashwin, the Indian cricket team players decided to give the veteran off-spinner a guard of honour as he walked out on the Dharamsala ground to feature in a Test match for the 100th time. The moment of reckoning came for Ashwin as India took on England in the 5th and final Test of the series on Thursday. As players lined up in two rows for Ashwin's guard of honour, the spinner went to skipper Rohit Sharma and gave him a hug.

How To Get Opponents' Batting Videos? R Ashwin Says "Make Friends With..."

Veteran Indian cricket team spinner Ravichandran Ashwin revealed that he occasionally becomes friends with media people in order to acquire footage of opponent batters during practice. Ashwin, who will play his 100th Test match in Dharamsala on Thursday, recalled how he used this strategy during the 2020-21 Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. He took 12 wickets in 3 matches and was able to dismiss Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne on multiple occasions in those three matches. Ashwin added that his tactic is also extremely useful in putting pressure on the opposition.