In a twist of events during the ongoing third Test between India and England in Rajkot, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took responsibility for England being awarded five penalty runs. The incident occurred when Ashwin, while batting, failed to exit the protected pitch area in time, leading to a penalty.
Umpire Joel Wilson accused Ashwin of running into the danger area on Day 2, enforcing a five-run penalty after a similar warning to India involving Ravindra Jadeja on Day 1. In the post-match press conference, Ashwin admitted his error, attributing it to “poor motor skills.” He stressed the importance of adhering to regulations for the game’s integrity.
ALSO READ: Harbhajan Singh Expresses Support And Prayers For Ashwin Amidst Family Emergency
“If the English media and players think it was on purpose, it wasn’t. If I was any better, I would have been in the Olympics. Why play cricket,” Ravichandran Ashwin stated, responding to former England captain Alastair Cook’s claim that Ashwin deliberately ran on the protected area to gain a bowling advantage.
According to MCC’s law 41.14.1, a batter causing deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch must move from the protected area immediately. In case of further contravention, umpires disallow runs, return not-out batters to their original end, signal no ball or wide if applicable, and award five penalty runs to the fielding side.
Before his withdrawal from the Test series, Ravichandran Ashwin ensured he hit back at Alastair Cook for questioning his ‘gamesmanship’#Ashwin #INDvENGhttps://t.co/lC44K39SEZ
— HT Sports (@HTSportsNews) February 17, 2024
Despite the penalty, India rebounded after a shaky start at 33/3, with skipper Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja scoring centuries in the first innings. Rohit contributed 131 runs, while Jadeja added a crucial 112. England bowlers staged a comeback, limiting India to 331/7 on Day 2. Ashwin, along with Dhruv Jurel, formed a vital 77-run partnership for the eighth wicket.
WATCH – Joe Root Falls Prey To His Reverse Scoop As Yashasvi Jaiswal Takes Spectacular Catch
On Day 2, India posted a formidable total of 445 in their first innings, with Jasprit Bumrah contributing a crucial 26 runs. In response, England reached 207/2 in just 35 overs by the end of the day, with opener Ben Duckett smashing a century off 88 deliveries. Ashwin achieved a milestone, securing his 500th Test wicket by dismissing Zak Crawley.
On Day 3, Indian bowlers, led by Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav, made significant breakthroughs, including dismissing former England skipper Joe Root and Duckett, leaving England at 226/4. The Test match remains finely poised as both teams vie for dominance.
