'Ravichandran Ashwin Made Us Realise WTC Final Mistake': Ex-India Star Lauds Veteran

13.07.2023 - 13:31 sports.ndtv.com

India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picked up his 33rd five-wicket haul on Wednesday as India took control of the proceedings against West Indies in the ongoing first Test.

After West Indies opted to bowl, Ashwin delivered the goods with the ball, registering figures of 5/60 in 24.3 overs as India bowled out the West Indies for 150.

Impressed with his performance on Day 1, former India batter Aakash Chopra has highlighted that Ashwin made the team management realise that they probably made a mistake by dropping him for the World Test Championship final. "The entire team was bowled out for 150 after opting to bat.

Ashwin picked up a five-wicket haul. Did we make a mistake in the WTC final, he made us realise that a little. The sort of pitches we have in Dominica or the West Indies, before the series I had predicted that Ravichandran Ashwin will be Player of the Series and he is on track currently.

cricket India Cricket Team West Indies Cricket Team 2023 West Indies vs India Nathan Lyon Ravichandran Ashwin Aakash Chopra India Dominica

Fuming over certain Indian fans and experts' 'over-reaction' to the management's decision of benching Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the ODI series against West Indies, Ravichandran Ashwin hasn't held back. The veteran off-spinner, disappointed with the public sentiment over the absence of Rohit and Kohli in the ODI series, Ashwin jumped to the defence of coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit. The marquee spinner feels some people are just trying to find reasons to blame the captain-coach duo without understanding the extent of injuries the squad has at the moment.

"Have To Applaud...": Ravichandran Ashwin's Interesting Take On Steve Smith's "Non" Run Out

The Day 2 of the ongoing second Ashes Test between England and Australia grabbed a lot of eyeballs after Steve Smith survived a close run-out call. Smith was clearly out of the crease when wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow had hit the stumps. However, Smith was declared not out by the third umpire, as per the MCC rules. This decision invited a lot of controversy as many cricketers and fans expressed their opinion regarding the same. However, India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin backed third umpire Nitin Menon for making the "right decision".

"Ravichandran Ashwin Will Run Through...": Mohammed Siraj Fires Day 5 Warning To West Indies

India pacer Mohammed Siraj is confident spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will prove to be more than a handful for the West Indies batters on the final day of the second Test in Port of Spain on Monday and help the visitors make a clean sweep of the two-match series. India, after setting a 365-run target for the hosts to level the series, had West Indies struggling at 76/2 at stumps on day four with veteran spinner Ashwin taking both the wickets on Sunday. The Caribbean side still has to score 289 runs to achieve an improbable win on Monday with the wicket assisting spinners.

India vs West Indies, 2nd Test: Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj Shine As West Indies Struggle On Rain-Hit Day 4

India gave themselves the best chance to win the second Test against the West Indies with an ultra-aggressive batting approach after lead pacer Mohammed Siraj produced career-best figures on another rain-hit day in Port of Spain. Siraj's five-wicket haul in the morning session allowed India to bowl out the West Indies for 255 in their first innings after the hosts started day four at 229 for five. Having gained a massive 183-run first innings lead, India went for an all-out attack in the second innings to smash 181 for two in 24 overs before declaring 35 minutes after the tea break to set the home team a 365-run target.

"No. 1 Match-Winner For India": Ex-Selector's Massive Take On Ravichandran Ashwin

Former Indian cricket team wicket-keeper and selector Saba Karim believes that veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been arguably the top match-winner for India when it comes to Test cricket. Ashwin took 61 wickets in just 13 matches in the 2021-23 cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) and Karim said in a recent interaction that his numbers over the years have been quite impressive and his impact has put him ahead of legendary bowlers like Anil Kumble. "Let's not have any whatabouts about it. He is arguably the No. 1 match-winner for India," Saba Karim told JioCinema.

Watch: Ravichandran Ashwin Produces 'Magic Delivery' To Bowl Out West Indies Captain Kraigg Brathwaite

Ravichandran Ashwin produced the delivery of the series to breach a dogged Kraigg Brathwaite's defence as West Indies crawled to 174 for 3 at tea against India on the third day of the second Test on Saturday. West Indies skipper Brathwaite (75 off 235 balls) used his enormous powers of concentration to frustrate the Indian attack on an insipid track before world's No. 1 Test bowler held the centre stage with a magical moment that brought the smiles back in Indian camp.