NEW DELHI: Star Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin delivered a crucial wicket by knocking over a well-set Devon Conway with a stunning delivery during the second day of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Full credit to Rohit Sharma's captaincy who brought Ashwin for his second spell, and he did perfectly what his skipper wanted of him.
Unlucky Conway, who missed the century by just 9 runs (105 balls 11x4 3x6), fell victim to Ashwin's tossed up delivery, first ball of the 40th over, from round the stumps. Trying to play aggressively against Ashwin, Conway played the pre-meditated reverse-sweep and missed the ball altogether as the ball crashed into the stumps, much to the delight of the Indian team.
The third umpire has been called upon to review the dismissal and determine whether wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel's gloves were in front of the stumps at the point of delivery. According to the rules, if the wicketkeeper's gloves are positioned beyond the back line of the stumps from a side-on perspective, it should be declared a no ball.
After careful examination of the footage, the third umpire concluded that Jurel's gloves were within the permitted boundaries when the ball was released. Consequently, the original decision remained unchanged, and the batsman was deemed to be out.
Ashwin's breakthrough came at a crucial juncture, halting Conway’s progress and shifting the momentum in India's favour. Known for his ability to outfox top-order batsmen, Ashwin’s dismissal of Conway showcased his class and experience, reinforcing his status as a pivotal player in India’s bowling attack.
