Watch: Ravichandran Ashwin survives bizarre bowled dismissal despite ball hitting stumps in Mumbai Test

A bizarre incident took place on the third day of the ongoing third and final Test match between India and New Zealand in Mumbai. Ravichandran Ashwin escaped a bowled-out dismissal despite the ball hitting the stumps in the fourth innings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, October 3.

The Indian cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, suffered a 25-run defeat in the third Test match against New Zealand. They failed to chase 147 runs in the final innings of the recent match. It's worth mentioning that the Indian team suffered their first-ever whitewash in a three-match Test series on home soil.

Watch: Ravichandran Ashwin Survives Bizarre Bowled-Out Dismissal

On the third ball of the 27th over in India's second innings, Ravichandran Ashwin came very close to being bowled out off Glenn Phillips's bowling. Ashwin played forward defensively to block the ball, but it took the inside edge of his bat. The ball hit Ashwin's pad before rolling back toward the stumps.

The Indian cricketer tried to change the direction of the ball to avoid hitting the stumps. However, the ball hit the stumps, but there was not enough pace left on it to dislodge the bails.

Lucky Ashwin 😆

Bails stay firm despite the ball hitting the stumps! 😏#INDvNZ #IDFCFirstBankTestTrophy #JioCinemaSports pic.twitter.com/aUksRPZHJe

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) November 3, 2024

Ravichandran Ashwin Dismissed For 8 Runs In Second Innings

However, Ashwin failed to make the most of the opportunity in India's second innings. He was dismissed after scoring 8 runs off 29 balls. Ashwin gloved the ball to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell while attempting a reverse sweep shot against Glenn Phillips. The team lost the next two wickets at the same score.

I Trusted My Hands To Go Through With It - Ravichandran Ashwin

Speaking after the second day's play, Ravichandran Ashwin opened up about his catch to dismiss Daryl Mitchell. Ashwin said that he focused on getting as close to the ball as possible. Reflecting on using the carrom ball, Ashwin said that the wicket responded differently depending on the end.

"(On the catch to dismiss Mitchell) I was just telling myself that it's going to anyway leave me, I wanted to get as close to the ball as possible and and I've got great hands, so I trusted my hands to go through with it," Ashwin said.

"(On employing the carrom ball) The game itself is divided into two halves. The one from the pavilion end and the other side, the wicket is responding very differently. It's slightly flatter from the one where we are bowling from the dressing room side, the the bounce is much lesser, so I thought I will try and use it the other way. The batters are also knowing that it's easier to take me on from this side. So I wanted to give something different," he added.

Also read: Watch: Rishabh Pant gets lifeline as Tom Latham skips DRS on LBW appeal on Day 3 of Mumbai Test