Former India pacer RP Singh has applauded Ravichandran Ashwin for rising to the occasion in a pressure situation in the fourth Test between India and England in Ranchi. However, Ashwin registered figures of 5/51 in 15.5 overs as India bundled England out for 145 in their second innings on Day 3 (Sunday, February 25) as well.

During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, RP Singh praised Ravichandran Ashwin, he added: “R Ashwin wasn’t having a good series in terms of his bowling performances but we knew that you cannot keep Ashwin out of the game for too long. He will have an impact and he made an impact here. We needed wicket-taking bowling here and Ashwin did that. I thought they would get the fast bowlers to bowl at the start but the captain took the right call in getting Ashwin to bowl. The important thing is to get wickets and for that, to create circumstances and to read the wicket. The captain did all of that and Ashwin lived up to that.”

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Meanwhile, Akash Deep claimed three wickets with the new ball in England’s first innings. However, Rohit opted to start the attack with Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the second innings as well. The move worked for them as the off-spinner dismissed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope off successive deliveries in his third over as well.

“He bowled well and was slightly lucky as well in getting wickets. He dismissed Ben Duckett, that was a good ball. Joe Root was a big wicket. It is a skill to bowl around the wickets and make the ball pitch in line, which would have then gone on to hit the stumps.nHe used the angle in such a way that the ball fell in that strip and you got success. So it was fantastic bowling. A big-match player gave a good performance at an important time,” RP Singh concluded.