IND vs AFG: Ravichandran Ashwin Reveals How Virat Kohli Made Him Run Outside The Dressing Room During Australia Clash

Ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed how he reacted when Virat Kohli nearly lost his wicket during the 2023 World Cup clash between India and Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday (October 8).

The whole of India had their hearts in their mouths when Virat Kohli top-edged a short ball from Josh Hazlewood. Chasing a modest total of 200 runs, Team India had made a disastrous start with the bat. Openers Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma as well as Shreyas Iyer failed to open their account, leaving the team reeling at 2 for 3.

18 runs later, India were agonizingly close to losing another huge wicket. Hazlewood bowled a well-directed bouncer to Virat Kohli and the latter could only top-edge the ball. Mitchell Marsh, standing at mid-wicket, and wicketkeeper Alex Carey ran for the catch and the former eventually grassed a regulation catch.

Virat Kohli was batting on 12 at that time and went on to smash 85 runs. He also shared a crucial 165-run stand with KL Rahul who remained unbeaten on 97 as India chased down the total in less than 42 overs and won the game by six wickets.

Ravichandran Ashwin on Virat Kohli’s dropped catch:

After the game ended on a winning note for Team India, Ravichandran Ashwin revealed his reaction when Virat Kohli top-edged the delivery from Hazlewood. The veteran spinner revealed that he was clueless and ran outside the dressing room as soon as the ball went up in the air.

“”When I saw Virat Kohli’s ball go up in the air, I ran outside the dressing room. I literally ran all the way outside. I didn’t know what to do. I was like ‘just wake me up when it’s all over’. It was that sort of a feeling,” Ravichandran Ashwin told Star Sports after India’s victory.

“Look, I think we have found ourselves in this sort of situation in important big games. When you play Australia, it’s never a small game. You do well, shot them off for 199. You think you are going to coast home and then the last thing you want is Virat Kohli getting out like that. The moment the crowd erupted, I ran back into the dressing room. I stood in the same place for the entire innings. My feet is actually paining,” he added.

Team India’s next game is against Afghanistan. The match is scheduled to be played on Wednesday (October 11) in Delhi.