Watch: KL Rahul Pulls Off Stunning Catch To Send Back Joe Root

Updated - 10 Jan 2019, 01:31 AM

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Before the start of the series, not many had put their money on Ravichandran Ashwin to do very well in England. Well, the critics had their reasons behind doubting Ashwin.

Before the start of the ongoing series, Ashwin had just three wickets in two Tests in England (both came during the 2014 tour), at 33.66. Not only that, the senior campaigner rarely replicated his home performance in overseas conditions. Not surprisingly, he attracted criticism from several quarters for his indifferent performance on unfriendly tracks.

However, Ashwin is proving one and all wrong with his sensational performances in the ongoing Test against England at Edgbaston. He began the game on a bang by dismissing castling Alastair Cook with a gem of a delivery in the first innings. He then went on to dismiss Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad to finish the innings as India’s highest wicket-taker.

Ravichandran Ashwin took 4 wickets in the first innings (Credits: BCCI)

And Ashwin is now looking set to do even better in the second innings. Ashwin has already taken three wickets and the last wicket can potentially seal the game for India. Ashwin sent back England’s batting mainstay and skipper Joe Root to leave England reeling at 39 for 3.

Prior to that, he had dismissed Cook and Keaton Jennings to put India on top. But the most important wicket is certainly that of Root who had scored 80 in the first innings. KL Rahul also deserves credit for pulling off a good catch at leg-slip. Root rocked back to play a shorter delivery from Ashwin. He worked the ball off his pads and the ball was travelling at a good speed. However, Rahul showed remarkable reflexes to cling on to the catch.