Ashwin entered the field at the MA Chidambaram Stadium when India were trailing by six wickets and only 144 runs. When he walked onto the pitch, the crowd erupted in cheers.
Ashwin showcased his exceptional form and executed a series of stunning shots that left head coach Gautam Gambhir, who was watching him from the dugout, in awe of the boundaries he hit.
Among the many impressive shots Ashwin played was the cut against Nahid Rana This particularly caught Gambhir’s attention. On the last delivery of the 44th over, the big pacer bowled a short, wide ball at a speed of 144.2 kmph.
The Indian batsman seized the opportunity to score and executed a superb cut shot that sent the ball to the sweeper cover boundary, which the commentators were quick to dub the ‘Blow of the Day’.
However, it was Gambhir’s reaction that attracted a lot of attention as he was visibly delighted with Ashwin’s exceptional strokeplay.
Bangladesh recently secured a series win against Pakistan which caught the attention of the cricket world. Ashwin acknowledged their success and said, “The series win has sent shockwaves through the cricket fraternity.”
“I am one of those people who love to see the underdog come in and perform. You can’t call them underdogs anymore; they have played great cricket,” he remarked, highlighting Bangladesh’s remarkable progress.
“They raised their hands and said, ‘Look, we are an up-and-coming team and we are playing beautiful cricket,'” Ashwin said, acknowledging Bangladesh’s growing strength on the field.
