A terrific, gritty, and smartly planned 8th-wicket partnership of 71* (105) between Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin helped India clinch victory from the jaws of defeat against Bangladesh in the second Test of the series, in Dhaka, on Sunday morning.
Adding on from their 188-run win in the first Test in Chattogram, India sealed the series 2-0, and remain strong on the second position on the World Test Championship points table with table leaders Australia to tour India in February.
It was a ‘What If’ game for Bangladesh who had India in big trouble early on Day 4 morning at 74/7 in the chase of 145/. Ashwin was on just 1 run when Mominul Haque at short leg put a regular short leg catch down after Mehidy elicited an inside edge on Ashwin’s forward defense.
Fans hail GOAT all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin
Both Ashwin and Shreyas Iyer were extremely cautious in their feet movement, calmly and astutely deciding on whether to go on the front foot or back foot, and rarely took the risk of skipping down the track – having seen Pujara get stumped out in this fashion.
Once the ball got softer, the effect of the morning roller wore off, and their partnership tensed Bangladesh despite them milking singles for the initial phase of their stand, boundaries started coming.
Shakib seemed to have panicked after the required runs got under 50 as he introduced pacer Khaled Ahmed who leaked 12 runs in 2 overs and Shakib himself bowled some short-length deliveries which were put away by the Indian batting duo.
Ashwin finished off the chase with a six and two fours off Mehidy and remained unbeaten on 42 off 62 balls, and Iyer on 29 off 46 balls. Earlier it was Axar Patel who scored 34 runs and held one end while others around him capitulated.
Netizens lauded R Ashwin’s clutch effort with the bat today, also recalling his heroics with the bat in Sydney in the Test against Australia, and his calmness against Pakistan at the MCG.
Here are the best tweets on R Ashwin after his batting heroics helped India come out of a jailbreak in Dhaka:
These knocks of 42*, 29*, and 34 by @ashwinravi99, @ShreyasIyer15, and @akshar2026 might be small in number, but they’re huge in stature! Congratulations India on winning the series 👏🏽 Well played to Bangladesh too, gave India proper scare! #BANvIND pic.twitter.com/x30h7WUliW
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 25, 2022
3000+ runs & 400+ wickets in Test cricket: One & only Ravichandran Ashwin.
The man, The Myth, The Legend. pic.twitter.com/GPImG7ooIh
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 25, 2022
6,2,0,0,4,4 by Ashwin and won it for India, what an incredible batting by one of the great of Test cricket. pic.twitter.com/iQ6v8EKlXU
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 25, 2022
Winning runs on Diwali
Winning runs on ChristmasRavichandran Ashwin is a man of festivals pic.twitter.com/YT78QvWCcU
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) December 25, 2022
Still MVP in test cricket. @ashwinravi99
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 25, 2022
Outstanding batting under pressure by @ashwinravi99 and @ShreyasIyer15.
Pure class. Well done Team India! 🇮🇳
Need to have more of such hard fought games to keep this format ticking.One step closer to the World Test Championship finals!#BANvIND pic.twitter.com/mJhoKVQNRQ
— DK (@DineshKarthik) December 25, 2022
Ashwin is one of Indian cricket’s all time greats #BANvIND
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) December 25, 2022
How many would have played an innings like that at no7 when your team was staring at a certain defeat ? @ashwinravi99 is a 🐐 period
— Prasanna (@prasannalara) December 25, 2022
Spin will always assure an AshWIN. #INDvBAN
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) December 25, 2022
What a nail-biter of a Test match india just managed to win! Despite a long injury list & selectoral caprice, @ashwinravi99 did so brilliantly that my only worry is that he might now be left out of the next match…!#INDvBAN
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 25, 2022
Most dependable batsman for India in Tests – King Ashwin #INDvsBAN pic.twitter.com/y3fRUhr9mA
— chacha monk (@oldschoolmonk) December 25, 2022
Ice in his veins, always. From letting that wide go against Pakistan and then lofting the last ball over mid-off, to arresting this collapse and now taking India home. Ashwin take a bow
— Sreshth Shah (@sreshthx) December 25, 2022
Sydney partnership with Vihari- Ashwin. World T20 v Pakistan leaving that wide ball under immense pressure from Nawaz, now today. @ashwinravi99 has been able to handle pressure brilliantly. Mental strength and his tremendous self belief. @RevSportz
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) December 25, 2022
Highest score at No.9 or lower in successful Test chase:
42* – R ASHWIN🇮🇳 v BAN, 2022
40* – Winston Benjamin🏝️ v PAK, 1988
38* – Sydney Barnes🏴 v AUS, 1908
35 – Rashid Latif🇵🇰 v AUS, 1994
34* – Gerry Hazlitt🇦🇺 v ENG, 1907#BANvIND— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) December 25, 2022
