IND vs AUS 2023: “Master of his craft” – Harsha Bhogle eulogizes R Ashwin for winning Smith vs Ashwin battle in Delhi Test

Dixit Bhargav | 17/02/2023
IND vs AUS 2023: "Master of his craft" - Harsha Bhogle eulogizes R Ashwin for winning Smith vs Ashwin battle in Delhi Test

India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin prevented Australia from finishing the first session of the second Test match in Delhi with a significant advantage on the back of picking two wickets in quick succession.

In this particular instance, quick succession means “three deliveries”. Other than picking a couple of wickets in the same over, what was even more remarkable was the batters which Ashwin dismissed.

Marnus Labuschagne (18) and Steven Smith (0), arguably the two most important batters for the visitors, couldn’t keep Ashwin at bay for much long as the off-spinner struck for the first time in his ninth over.

Saved by the on-field umpire at first, Labuschagne had to walk back to the pavilion after India opted for a DRS. With the ball pitching in line and hitting the middle-stump, Ashwin had clearly managed to find the right-handed batter wanting in front of the stumps in spite of bowling round the wicket.

Smith, meanwhile, edged the second ball that he faced to India wicket-keeper Srikar Bharat. With the ball keeping a bit low, Smith’s confident forward defense led to his dismissal at the Arun Jaitley Stadium today.

Harsha Bhogle eulogizes R Ashwin for winning Smith vs Ashwin battle in Delhi Test

Popular broadcaster Harsha Bhogle took to social media platform Twitter to express awe of Ashwin for changing the match situation yet again. Australia, who had scored 88/1 in 22 overs at a run rate of 4 before Ashwin’s double-wicket over, were about to earn bragging rights in the morning session had the 36-year old player not turned the tables a few overs before the lunch break.

Currently playing his fifth Test at this stadium, Ashwin has now picked 29 wickets at an average and strike rate of 19.72 and 49.8 respectively here.

Post Edited By: Dixit Bhargav
Australia Australia tour of India 2023 Border Gavaskar Trophy Harsha Bhogle India Ravichandran Ashwin Steve Smith

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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