The unbeaten 42-run knock that India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin played while battling the Bangladesh spinners in the fourth innings of the second Test in Mirpur to help India pull out a victory from a precarious situation will find a special place in cricket history despite the fact that he has five Test hundreds to his credit. When Ashwin and Shreyas Iyer teamed up, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib Al Hasan, and Taijul Hasan had India in a pickle and reeling at 74 for 7 in the 145-run chase. He did get some luck when Mominul Haque dropped his catch at forward short leg while he was batting on one, but it was impressive how the seasoned player maintained his composure on a wicket that was favourable to spinners.
For his all-around performance, Ashwin, who also took six wickets throughout the game, was appropriately named Player of the Match. At the conclusion of the third day’s play, after helping to win the match, Ashwin discussed the Test match and recalled a conversation he had with Bangladesh batsmen Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Litton Das. India was 45 to 4 down. After the game ended, Ashwin described how Mehidy and Litton mocked each other around the pool.
Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, “These two (Mehidy Hasan and Litton Das) were casually swimming in the pool. I was thinking whether they will tease me or say something in Bengali. But these two are really good guys. They said, ‘Welcome Ash bhai! We thought you would be the nightwatchman today but why didn’t you come? But anyway you will come to bat tomorrow, your wicket will be crucial.’ They just started to sledge me. I replied, ‘congrats on the famous, historic Test win for Bangladesh guys!’. They were like, ‘Come on! We know you guys bat deep. So it won’t be easy for us. We will tell you one thing, it won’t be easy to chase any target in the fourth innings in Mirpur’. I told Mehidy, ‘bro wait till the end of 35 overs. Once the condition of the ball changes, anything can happen’. I told him how the condition of the ball and the nature of the slow pitch allows the batters to play on the front and back foot after 35 overs.”
Here’s the full video:
The 36-year-old continued by expressing his admiration for Litton Das. When Ashwin first saw Litton play for Bangladesh, he claimed he believed he could one day compare to Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, and Steve Smith.
He added, “I told Litton Das that I saw him during his Test debut. I saw his style of play and thought here is a pathbreaker to take Bangladesh cricket forward. I told him ‘I have a small disappointment. I thought you will reach the level of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson’. He replied saying ‘Yes, I agree Ash bhai. Our cricketing culture is different. We don’t get that much exposure since we play only here. When we play on a different pitch, it takes time for us to adapt’.
He told me when I was leaving that he has almost cracked how to become the pathbreaker, he has found the formula. I told him that I will be the first person to be happy for him if he does well.”.
