IND vs AUS Test: Mahesh Pithiya – While the first India-Australia Test is still six days, Steve Smith & Co have found a way to tackle Ravichandran Ashwin. During the batting session in Alur, Baroda spinner Mahesh Pithiya impressed Smith by bowling just like Ashwin. It was initially Matthew Renshaw who spotted the Ashwin Impersonator and immediately told fellow Aussie batters to watch out for him. Smith paused his batting session, liked what he saw, and told Pithiya to bowl at him. Follow IND vs AUS Live Updates with InsideSport.IN.
Carbon copy of Ashwin in Australian practice session. pic.twitter.com/qwpoR2jep5
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 3, 2023
- Pithiya is one of the spinners who impressed the Australian coaching staff.
- They had seen videos of Pithiya’s bowling on Instagram.
- Australia liked what they had seen and roped him to their training session in Alur
Mahesh Pithiya grew up being called “Ashwin” owing to his uncanny impersonation of his idol @ashwinravi99 & he ended up ‘playing’ Ashwin for Australia in their first training session on tour & making a big impression on Steve Smith. Here’s how #IndvAus https://t.co/GnAd63DFN6 pic.twitter.com/BgNwOWGDC6
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) February 3, 2023
IND vs AUS Test: Steve Smith Impressed as Australia find a way to tackle Ravichandran Ashwin, WATCH Batter practice against ‘Ashwin Impersonator’ Mahesh Pithiya in Bengaluru, Follow India vs Australia LIVE
IND vs AUS: Pithiya impresses Steve Smith & Co, Australia prepare for Ashwin test in Alur
Pithiya originally hails from Junagadh in Saurashtra. The off-spinner moved to Baroda solely due to his passion to play cricket. Unlike other children, Pithiya was deprived of TV in the house till the age of 11. However, things changed in 2013 as Pithiya saw Ashwin bowl against West Indies, and realised his action was just like. All Pithiya did was put in the hard yards and try to get attention from cricket’s big names.
It did not take too long for Australia to spot the off-spinner and ask him to join the training session as soon as he finished playing Ranji. By extensively bowling to Smith, Pithiya managed to get a nod of appreciation and constant encouragement from the vice-captain. According to a report in Cricbuzz, the Australia batter also missed a few sweep shots and got bowled too. But being the champion that Smith is, he bounced back by playing a few cover drives.
IND vs AUS: Not only Ashwin but Australia also focus on tackling Axar Patel, rope in Shashank Mehrotra
- Not only Ashwin, but Australia are also vary of Axar Patel. They are yet to face him in Tests and feel he could be the biggest threat.
- For the same, the Australians have roped in Shashank Mehrotra, who is pretty similar to Axar and Jadeja.
- Labuschagne, Alex Carey, and Renshaw faced Mehrotra and aced for Axar and Jadeja challenge.
- India are likely to go with three spinners, owing to the Nagpur pitch assisting spinners.
IND vs AUS Test: Steve Smith Impressed as Australia find a way to tackle Ravichandran Ashwin, WATCH Batter practice against ‘Ashwin Impersonator’ Mahesh Pithiya in Bengaluru, Follow India vs Australia LIVE
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