It's about the heart to try something different in the game: Ravi Ashwin

Virat Kohli and Co continued their domination over England in the 2nd Test at Vizag stretching their 2nd innings lead to 298, with seven wickets in hand. The day began on a positive note for England as overnight batsmen Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow scored fluent half-centuries to share an 110 run partnership before the wicket-keeper batsman was castled by Umesh Yadav.

The wicket of Bairstow triggered the collapse as Ashwin wiped off the tail finishing with yet another five-wicket haul. This was Ashwin’s first five-wicket haul against England and he was delighted with his effort. He was very happy with the way he bowled and conceded that Rajkot was a pretty unresponsive pitch where Indian spin brigade went for plenty.

Ravi Ashwin said, “Haven’t had a five-wicket haul against England. It was at the back of my mind but I knew it would come if I stuck along to doing the right things. I am not yet counting the chickens. I wanted to get into a good rhythm. In Rajkot, you can go for a few boundaries and your rhythm can be off, so I wanted to start well today. Very few balls spun, so it’s a challenge for the batsmen. Tried to vary the pace, bowl it slow.

Talking about picking Joe Root’s wicket, “I told Virat that I will get Root caught at short-mid-wicket because he was stepping out and driving. But Virat had the mid-on in place. I tried to get a little more side-on in my delivery action. It’s about the heart to try something different in the game. Virat batted solidly today,” added the Indian off-spinner.

Also read – India v England, 2nd Test, Day 3 – 5 Talking Points

Harsha Bhogle was in all praise for Virat Kohli who continued his rich vein of form scoring a fluent half-century in the 2nd essay followed by a breathtaking 167 in the 1st innings.

Harsha Bhogle, “There must be a sense of joy and power when you are in the kind of form Virat Kohli is in.”

Cricket Analyst Alan Wilkins conceded that India looked in a position of complete strength and England will have to do something extraordinary in the next few days to make a match out of this.

“Virat Kohli has steered India to the position where England will have to break records in the fourth innings. A day that belonged to India through Ashwin, and now with Kohli, and they know that the position is one where they cannot lose this Test. Only one side has won a Test chasing a target of over 276 in India. That was India – 387/4 against England – at Chennai in 2008,” said Alan Wilkins.