Rajkot: India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had to withdraw from the ongoing third Test against England to attend his ill mother in Chennai. The development comes on a day when the 37-year-old became only the second Indian after Anil Kumble and ninth overall to take coveted 500 Test wickets. While the BCCI updated the development referring to it as a family medical emergency, Board vice-president Rajeev Shukla spilled the beans on social media.
“Ravichandran Ashwin has withdrawn from the Test squad, effective immediately due to a family medical emergency. In these challenging times, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the team fully supports Ashwin,” BCCI said in a media release.
Taking to social media platform ‘X’, Shukla revealed that Ashwin had to rush back to Chennai to see his mother who had fallen sick. “Wishing speedy recovery of mother of @ashwinravi99. He has to rush and leave Rajkot test to Chennai to be with his mother. @BCCI,” Shukla posted.
Wishing speedy recovery of mother of @ashwinravi99 . He has to rush and leave Rajkot test to Chennai to be with his mother . @BCCI
— Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) February 16, 2024
India will play the remainder of the third Test with 10 men and four specialist bowlers. Ashwin’s withdrawal comes at a crucial time with the side already missing injured KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, who opted out of the series due to family emergency.
In the absence of Ashwin, speciallists Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja will have to take extra responsibility. Besides, India captain Rohit Sharma can also use himself and Shubman Gill as a added bowling options. While Rohit used to bowl in IPL during his initial days, Gill was also seen rolling his arms recently.
It is also understood that India might miss the services of Ashwin might for the remaining two Test matches in Ranchi (Feb 25-29) and Dharamsala (March 7-11). The team already has Washington Sundar as a spin-bowling replacement of Ashwin.
The other possible replacements, outside the squad could be veterans Jayant Yadav and Jalaj Saxena along with young Pulkit Narang. Talking about the match, the game is evenly poised as England finished Day 2 at 207/2 in reply to India’s 445 all out. Ben Duckett is batting on 133 with Joe Root as his company.
Earlier, India posted a total in excess of 400, thanks to hundreds from Rohit and Jadeja and also contributions from debutants Sarfaraz Khan (62), Ashwin (39) and Dhruv Jurel (46).
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