India’s long standing red ball dominance at home continued be challenged by New Zealand at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Day 2 of the second Test as the visitors bowled out the Men in Blue for a paltry 156 to take a 103-run first innings lead. Walking out to bat again after Lunch, the Kiwis further piled on the pressure by stroking three early boundaries off Ravichandran Ashwin to take the score to 23/0 when the off-spinner returned for his third over. The veteran responded with aplomb, conceding just one and nearly scalping a wicket were it not for the umpire’s call mechanism getting in his way.
Ashwin was up against Tom Latham on the fifth ball of the over when he delivered a slow good length delivery to follow up the faster one that went on with the arm while angling into the stumps. The opener went down low for a sweep but was deceived by the variation and the red cherry struck his front pad, evoking a loud appeal from the entire Indian contingent. Even though the umpire shook his head, Ashwin was convinced the ball had hit Latham in line while Pant argued the opposite. Eventually, skipper Rohit Sharma decided to back his bowler and went upstairs, only for the replay to show the SG had just struck Latham along the line of the off-stump, which meant an umpire’s call verdict and the consequent survival of the southpaw.
Ashwin could not believe his luck as he walked back to his mark and made a frustrated remark to the umpire with his face scrunched up while his teammates and Twitterati did not react much differently.
Almost!!
Saved
Latham saved by umpire’s call against Ashwin
Conway given out against Sundar, there was an edge.
Balancing 🤣— ∆ 🏏 (@CaughtAtGully) October 25, 2024
Washy picking up where he left off, but Ashwin & Jadeja have to come to the party too, to rescue this for India.#INDvNZ
— Sahil Oberoi (@SahilOberoi1) October 25, 2024
Not much
Finished
Kohli – Finished
Jadeja – Finished
Ashwin – Finished
Pujara is still so much better than Kohli.
Should have been included in the squad. #INDvsNZ— BeckInDaGame (@in_beck96643) October 25, 2024
Ashwin has been below average this series. How often do we see him not getting wickets at home?#INDvNZ #INDvsNZ
— Omkar🏏🇮🇳 (@Omkar_Acharya12) October 25, 2024
Retire
Time for Rohit , Jadeja ,Ashwin to retire from test as well .Virat should also,but ….. .Pant shd be the captain.Axar needs to be a permanent guy .Need a domestic monster like A Ishwaran in team who knows how to to play red ball .Also in India lord Umesh >>>> bumrah . #INDvsNZ
— Nirmal (@Nirmal__24) October 25, 2024
Crazy
Ravi Ashwin is going for more than 5 an over! What a third grade bowler!
— Sanatani Warrior (@Hinduwarrior24) October 25, 2024
Ashwin is bowling too quick with the ball not spinning for him at all.
While Sundar is getting help from the wicket bowling quicker.
You’ve to adjust here.
Toss it up Ashwin and slow the pace down. The length has been prefect.#INDvsNZ— Santosh Kumar (@santoshxkumar) October 25, 2024
Poor
Poor bowling by Ashwin.
Washi has shown great control over the ball. Bring Jadeja ASAP.#INDvsNZ— गौरव उपाध्याय || Gaurav Upadhyay (@Gaurav_bageshwr) October 25, 2024
