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Ravichandran Ashwin (Source: Twitter)
India faced another setback during the 3rd Test against England as Ravichandran Ashwin, a key player for the home team, had to return home due to a family emergency. The veteran spinner reached a significant milestone on Friday by claiming his 500th Test wicket, achieved with the dismissal of opener Zak Crawley.
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Ashwin was on the brink of becoming the third off-spinner to achieve this feat and the second fastest after the legendary Muthiah Muralidharan. Earlier, the Indian team suffered a setback when former captain Virat Kohli was unavailable for the first two matches and subsequently withdrew from the remaining three. Kohli's absence was keenly felt due to his valuable experience and energy.
Now, the absence of the 37-year-old bowling all-rounder will pose another challenge for Rohit Sharma, given his significant role as a key spinner for the team. The Indian Cricket Board has refrained from questioning his decision and has opted not to delve deeper into the matter. Instead, the board has urged fans and media to respect the privacy of the Indian star while affirming its full support for Ashwin during this challenging time.
“Ravichandran Ashwin has withdrawn from the Test squad, effective immediately due to a family medical emergency. In these challenging times, the Board and the team fully support Ashwin. Wishing speedy recovery of mother of R Ashwin. He has to rush and leave the Rajkot Test to Chennai to be with his mother,” the Indian Cricket Board wrote in a media release on Friday.
R Ashwin withdraws from the 3rd India-England Test due to family emergency.
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 16, 2024
In these challenging times, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the team fully supports Ashwin.https://t.co/U2E19OfkGR
Ben Duckett leads England reply
Facing a daunting target, England's opening duo, Zak Crawley and Duckett, once again showcased their ability to form strong partnerships. Despite Crawley's early dismissal, Duckett shone brightly, reaching a remarkable century. He notably became the fastest English batter to achieve this feat on Indian soil, achieving it in just 88 deliveries.
After Crawley's departure, Ollie Pope provided valuable support with a contribution of 39 runs before being dismissed. Partnering with Joe Root (9*), Duckett ensured further setbacks were avoided, guiding England to a commanding 207/2 by day's end. However, the start of Day 3 thus far has been in India’s favor as they have taken three wickets with Joe Root (18), Jonny Bairstow (0) and Ben Duckett (153) all back in the hut. Currentlt, England are in a spot of bother with 260/5.