Ravichandran Ashwin on Sunday bagged a fifer and led front to bring India right back into the game on the third day of the IND vs ENG 4th Test. Ashwin grabbed his first fifer of the series with a disciplined display and equalled Indian spin great Anil Kumble for most 5-wicket hauls in Tests among Indians.
The Indian bowlers needed to put up a mammoth display on Day 3 of the 4th Test to put India back into the driving seat. Ashwin led the charge and ensured India were within touching distance to achieve the series-winning victory.
The off-spinner started the onslaught by removing England opener Ben Duckett. Ollie Pope became Ashwin’s next victim when he was caught plumb in front of the wicket by the off-spinner. Joe Root starred for England in the first innings with a century but could not emulate his form in the second. The dismissal of Root was a controversial one but Ashwin wouldn’t mind for sure.
Ben Foakes put up a bit of resistance with 17 runs from 76 balls but was sent back to the pavillion by Ashwin from a tossed up delivery. Ashwin got his 5th wicket in the form of James Anderson as the nick was caught by wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel sharply.
Ashwin already broke a few records in the IND vs ENG series when he became only the second Indian bowler to grab 500 wickets in Tests. The off-spinner on Sunday equalled Anil Kumble for most 5-wicket hauls by an Indian as this was Ashwin’s 35th fifer of his Test career. With the form Ashwin is in, it can safely be said that he will break quite a few other records in the years to come.
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