Twitter Reactions: Ravi Ashwin closes the game for India on Day 4

They had 258 runs in the account but Virat Kohli decided to bat again. Why not give them a follow-on and finish off the game? But the Team India skipper knew his bowlers especially the spinners needed rest, they’d be bowling bulk of the overs in the last inning and no matter if you are Ravichandran Ashwin, fingers do hurt.

The Indian batsmen walked out to bat again and comeback man Gautam Gambhir after having retired hurt on Day 3 made the most of it this morning. He settled himself in with Cheteshwar Pujara and got to his half century which was a display of some positive and aggressive cricket. He got out immediately after the fifty but Pujara carried on, he lost Kohli in due course as well but kept going.

The Saurashtra star was rather slow while scoring the first 50 runs of his knock but when he walked out after the Lunch break batted with more intent and scored his 8th Test ton in 148 balls. As soon as Pujara took off his helmet and raised his bat to celebrate the well-deserved century skipper Kohli declared the inning.

Team India had a lead of 474 runs and more than one session to have a go at the Kiwi batters. Umesh Yadav got them the first breakthrough and after starting with the pacers initially, the spinners were called in and Ashwin removed the Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson (27) to trigger the downfall. He then bowled Ross Taylor for 32, Ravindra Jadeja on the other end, dismissed Martin Guptill who was looking to stick around for 29.

Also read- IND v NZ, 3rd Test Day 4 Review: Ashwin bowls India to a whitewash win

The offie then cleaned up Luke Ronchi and Jadeja had Jimmy Neesham for naught. Mitchell Santner and Jeetan Patel were bowled by Ashwin again as he registered yet another 5-wicket haul in Tests, his 21st and made it 7 when he caught and bowled Trent Boult to wrap the game up for Team India. He registered his best bowling figures in an innings 5/59 and match figures with 13/140.

Here is how Twitter reacted:

India beat New Zealand by 321 runs in Indore Test and win the @Paytm Test Series 3-0. #IndvNZ pic.twitter.com/LX3HzCTG3B

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 11, 2016

Had no doubt that India would win the test series against New Zealand but not in this fashion, they have been crushed. #INDvNZ

— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) October 11, 2016

Kiwi WAGS everytime Ashwin and Jadeja have been introduced. #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/pTn8QZZqXl

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) October 11, 2016

NZ not the same team as when BMac was in charge. Was always worth more than his very good stats would suggest. #IndvNZ

— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) October 11, 2016

Since his return from the Caribbean, Pujara has scored 826 FC runs at an ave of 137 with three centuries and three fifties. In five matches.

— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) October 11, 2016

Ross Taylor's unbridled attack against Ashwin is, I suspect, an attempt to conceal his uncertainty. These things come off sometines though!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 11, 2016

Amla and Ab De Villiers currently the only batsmen for all conditions.
Smith, Root, Williamson and Kohli have a fair way to go.

— Fake Mitch Johnson (@NotMitchJohnson) October 11, 2016

Kane Williamson running after the journalist who had asked Kohli on why batsmen haven't been able to score a century this series #indvsnz pic.twitter.com/mpD25MWICP

— Shashi (@AllTimeBakchod) October 11, 2016

https://twitter.com/AltCricket/status/785739928294469632

Another 5 wicket haul for R Ashwin. @harbhajan_singh right now. #indvsnz pic.twitter.com/kNoXeJ6fHt

— Sir Lazy (@iLazyLad) October 11, 2016

Stunning performance by @ashwinravi99: this Test, this series, the past couple of years – in fact since he came into international cricket

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 11, 2016

At what point do we wonder how good Ashwin actually is? Is it solely down to Indian pitches or is he actually a world class off spinner

— Marc Gisby ?? (@gisby_marc) October 11, 2016

4th 12-wicket haul for Ashwin in Tests. Only Muralitharan (6) has taken more such hauls. Barnes, Fazal and Herath also have 4 such hauls.

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) October 11, 2016

NZ batsmen against Ashwin and Jadeja #IndvsNZ pic.twitter.com/NogufWqsQs

— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) October 11, 2016

#HappyDussehra
Let's celebrate the triumph of Rama over Ravana, Durga over Mahishasura, and now, India over New Zealand.

— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) October 11, 2016

Ashwin to Harbhajan Singh #indvsnz pic.twitter.com/3bHucyDUPR

— Shashi (@AllTimeBakchod) October 11, 2016

https://twitter.com/SAMPATHB24/status/785794890244337664

Harbhajan Singh reacts after another 5-wicket haul for Ashwin #indvsnz #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/JJUW8Y1eV7

— Gunner (@Nicks103) October 11, 2016

Even Pujara Scored 101 Off 148 Balls, Aur Kitne Acche Din Chahiye Kameeno? 😉#INDvsNZ #INDvNZ

— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadejaaaa) October 11, 2016

No rank turner this. Just exceptional off spin bowling from @ashwinravi99 . Skill, sense, strategy. #cricket #INDvNZ

— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) October 11, 2016

OUT FOR A NOUGHT!

Jaddu gets his first, no heroics from James Neesham in the 2nd innings#INDvNZ

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) October 11, 2016

Waiting to add this beauty to our collection – @ICC Test Mace @Paytm Test Cricket #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/8gcUgQGj0K

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 11, 2016

32 LBWs – the most in a three match series (by both sides) in the subcontinent
21 for Indian bowlers and 11 for Kiwi bowlers#IndvNZ

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) October 11, 2016

8th Test century for @cheteshwar1 followed by a declaration for India. #NZ need 475 runs to win #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/mT3vRoG32w

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 11, 2016

Shifted gears swiftly…played a different brand of cricket. Did what the team wanted. Reward–8th Test ton. Well played, Che Pujara #INDvNZ

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 11, 2016

Well done @cheteshwar1! This has taken some time coming but all worth it. Forget the numbers, there is quality here, forever. #INDvNZ

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 11, 2016

India may declare before Pujara's 100 because when he gets to a 100 he usually makes it a big one and India don't have time for that #indvnz

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) October 11, 2016