The Indian Team made a sensational comeback in the 2nd Test after suffering a defeat in the 1st Test at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. On Day 1, Multiple England cricketers tweeted about how the pitch being used is an absolute disaster, definitely not suitable for 5-day cricket but the local boy Ravichandran Ashwin proved them wrong following a spectacular show with both bat and ball at his home stadium.
Ravichandran Ashwin launched one of his best knocks in Test cricket as the local boy from Chennai played a fighting knock of 106 batting down the order at 8 helping India put up a score of 286 in the 2nd Innings.
Ravichandran Ashwin not only did he score an all-important century batting down the order but also picked up a 5 wicket haul during England’s first innings. In the 2nd innings, Ashwin scalped three wickets as India emerged victorious by defeating the visitors by a massive margin of 317 runs.
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‘Ajinkya Rahane Played A Crucial Role In My Batting’ – Ravichandran Ashwin
The off-spinner was adjudged the man of the match for his all-round show in India’s comeback victory against the Englishmen. During the post-match presentation, Ashwin briefed about how the pitch used in the first Test was way different from the one used in the 2nd Test, further adding how it was more about playing with the mind of the batsman.
“This wicket was very different to the one we played on in the first game. This was a red soil wicket, the first one was a clay wicket. As much as people were predicting things from the outside, I thought the balls that was doing much wasn’t getting wickets. It was the mind of the batsmen that got us wickets.”
On day 3, Ashwin had credited the batting coach Vikram Rathour for the sudden shift in his batting performance in the recent times whereas today he talked about how Ajinkya Rahane played a crucial role in telling him that he was overthinking while batting.
“I just wanted to take it upon myself, and after I connected the first ball, I knew I got a hang of this wicket. I am someone who tries hard, and when things don’t go my way, I try harder. Vikram Rathore has been very supportive. My batting was more about hands, to think tactically instead of technically. Ajinkya played a crucial role in telling me that I was overthinking it.”
In the end, the local boy described how he felt like a hero on every single day of the Test match as the 2nd Test became the most special Test to date for Ravichandran Ashwin. Lastly thanking the crowd for their endless support during the span of the 4 days of the Test.
“As an eight-year-old, I have come here on these very stands to watch cricket. I have played four Test matches here and easily this is the most special. I get a hero’s feeling here playing cricket here. In Covid times this knowledgeable crowd came out in big numbers. They were 1-0 without the crowd, and we made it 1-1 with them. Hopefully, we can take it forward,” Ravichandran Ashwin signed off.
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