Ravichandran Ashwin, on Saturday (February 18), once again showed why he is so important for Team India in Tests as he made his mark with the bat. After taking 3 wickets in Australia’s first innings, the Tamil Nadu star made a big impact with the bat too in the ongoing second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
India were in a huge spot of bother after being reduced to 139 for 9 when Ravichandran Ashwin walked out to bat. The hosts were still trailing Australia’s first innings total of 263 runs by 124 runs. Australia were looking destined to take a good lead in the first innings before Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel ruined their plans.
The duo stitched together a 114-run stand to take the score past the 200-run mark and all but wipe out Australia’s hopes of getting a good lead. The partnership came to an end when Pat Cummins sent back Ravichandran Ashwin while bowling with the new ball.
The off-spinner departed after scoring a gutsy 37. His knock came off 71 balls and was studded with 5 fours. India were eventually all out for 262, 1 run short of Australia’s first innings total. Axar’s 74 was the best performance by an Indian in the first innings.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s big sacrifice:
Ravichandran Ashwin once again made a big sacrifice for the team’s cause as he risked suffering painful blows on his thigh while batting in Delhi.
According to Australian journalist Andrew Wu, the 36-year-old was not wearing a thigh guard at the start of his innings, reducing the chance of a catch at short-leg. The India star was ready to cope a few painful blows on his thigh to keep his wicket intact and help the team.
Ravichandran Ashwin has been batting without a thigh pad to Australia's spinners. That's one way – and a painful way – of reducing the chance of an in-close catch. #INDvAUS
— Andrew Wu (@wutube) February 18, 2023
Meanwhile, Australia have put themselves slightly ahead of India after making a good start in the second innings. Usman Khawaja did depart for 6 but Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne scored some quick runs for their team as Australia finished the day on 61 for 1.