Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin shared his thoughts on controversial extra runs taken by Mohammad Nabi after the ball deflection off his pads during the 3rd T20I between India and Afghanistan in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Team India skipper Rohit Sharma was involved in a heated argument with Mohammad Nabi after Afghanistan all-rounder took extra two runs after ball deflected off his pads from Sanju Samson's throw on the last ball of the first Super Over.
Though Nabi didn't violate any rules or laws of the game, Indian players including Rohit and Virat Kohli were quite disappointed. However, the extra runs didn't help Afghanistan as India levelled the scores of 16 to take the match to the second Super Over.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, R Ashwin threw spirit of cricket out of the window, saying it is normal for batters to take extra runs when ball deflects off.
"When a fielder throws to get me run out and the ball deflects off my body, I am within my right to run. Spirit of cricket, yet again, sorry,” veteran Indian off-spinner said.
On Team India's disappointment over Mohammad Nabi extra runs to his advantage, the 37-year-old said that affected party in such cases will often feel irritated.
"Virat Kohli stopped the ball with his leg and wondered what was happening. There are two sides to this story. If we are the affected party on the field, we’ll get irritated with whatever happens. ‘We might not have done this if we were on the field’ - that is our personal opinion and view,”
In the second Super Over, Team India batted first and posted a total of 11 in six balls. Skipper Rohit Sharma gave the ball to spinner Ravi Bishnoi instead of pacers to defend the total. Bishnoi managed to held his nerves and took two wickets in two balls to hand over the win to Men in Blue.
With his thrilling win, Team India clean swept Afghanistan in three match series.
Ravi Ashwin to feature in the Test series against England
Ravichandran Ashwin will return to action for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, starting on January 25. The 37-year-old has been picked in 16-member squad for two Tests against Ben Stokes-led England team.
When England toured India for the 5-match Test series in 2021, Ashwin was the highest wicket-taker with 32 scalps, including a fifer and a four-wicket haul, at an average of 14.72 in 3 matches.
Ravichandran Ashwin is the third-highest wicket-taker for India against England in Tests, scalping 88 wickets in 19 matches. The veteran off-spinner is expected to be one of the key bowlers in England Test series as India will look to regain their top spot in WTC 2023-25 points table.
Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin is just 10 wickets away to become the second Indian bowler after Anil Kumble to take 500 scalps in Test Cricket history.
