Ravichandran Ashwin on Sunday equalled Anil Kumble for most 5-wicket hauls in Tests among Indians. Ashwin grabbed his 35th fifer of his career on day 3 of the IND vs ENG 4th Test. Ashwin’s onslaught saw England being all out for 145 runs in their second innings. It left India to chase 192 runs in the fourth innings. Kumble was delighted with Ashwin’s bowling performance, and said Ashwin was brilliant in his approach.
Ashwin was truly on song on the third day of the IND vs ENG 4th Test. Ashwin removed some of the most dangerous English batters including Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes. His 5th wicket became Jimmy Anderson. The English speedster tried a reverse sweep and was caught by wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel.
Kumble, speaking on Jio Cinema after the day’s play, said Ashwin needed to keep all the ‘noise’ aside. The Indian spin legend also claimed that Ashwin would go past him in no time.
“It’s wonderful to see Ashwin right up there. I’m sure he’ll go beyond that. He still has a lot of matches to play for India and he has done that throughout. When someone has given you that kind of a start to his Test career, the expectations just go higher and higher. And when someone doesnt pick up two fifers in two innings or in two test matches, suddenly people start talking about his form, about his action, about why he is changing this and that,” Kumble said.
“But that is all noise and you just need to keep that away. Champion bowlers do that and Ashwin has certainly done that in this innings where India needed him the most. The spinners had to come to the party in this innings. To knock England out for less than 150 and needing 192 to win, a brilliant effort from Ravichandran Ashwin there to pick up his 35th 5-wicket haul,” he added.
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