In the game of cricket, the age-old rivalry between bat and ball frequently takes centre stage. On a day when the willow wielders appeared to be in total control, it was the seasoned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who emerged as the game-changer in the second One-Day International match between India and Australia. The Men in Blue put on a strong batting performance in the match, which was played in Indore, posting an impressive total of 399/5 on the scoreboard.
Despite the first-inning appearance of a batters’ paradise, Ashwin’s spell in the second inning showed a different picture. The deft off-spinner, who was able to generate sharp turn from the pitch with astonishing consistency, cost Australia’s chase with the valuable scalps of three significant wickets. The wrist spinner for India who is currently out of favour, Yuzvendra Chahal, couldn’t help but express his admiration for Ashwin’s spellbinding display. Chahal took to the internet to express his ideas on X (formerly Twitter), writing,
“@ashwinravi99 #Legend #INDvsAUS” is sufficient to refer to Ravichandran Ashwin.
The most recent entry by Yuzvendra Chahal on ‘X’ is as follows:
Ravichandran Ashwin name is enough @ashwinravi99 #Legend 🇮🇳 #INDvsAUS
— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) September 24, 2023
Yuzvendra Chahal riddle
The committee’s difficult choice between the wrist-spinning combination of Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav was a topic of conversation because it presented them with a selection problem. Although Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, two spin all-rounders, were present, it was logistically challenging to accommodate the two wrist spinners despite the great skills of both spin maestros. Kuldeep, who has demonstrated extraordinary skill since his comeback in the Indian ODI setup, was ultimately chosen by the selectors.
Kuldeep’s inclusion not only strengthened the bowling attack but also gave the batting lineup more depth. As a result of his absence from the team for the 2021 T20 World Cup, the 33-year-old found himself on the outside looking in. Nevertheless, Chahal’s performance in the Indian Premier League speaks eloquently about his mastery of the spinner’s technique, with a stunning total of 187 wickets at an average of 21.68 and an economy rate of 7.66 highlighting his indisputable skill.
India
