The second Test match between India and England is underway at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. England won the first test at the same venue – handing a shocking defeat to the Men In Blue. Joe Root, the England test captain, was instrumental in this historic test win. Ravichandran Ashwin accounted his second fifer in his home town in the first match.
This was India’s only second test defeat at home since 2013. This shows India’s sheer dominance in their own backyard. Due to this defeat, India slipped to the fourth position in the points table of World Test Championship.
India Looking Solid In The Second Test:
The Virat Kohli led side made a strong comeback in the ongoing second test. They have been quite ahead of the visitors for most of the game so far. Right from the first ball, India have played the brand of cricket they are known for.
Rohit Sharma played a magnificent knock of 161 runs in the first innings, whereas Ravichandran Ashwin picked up his 29th fifer of test career. As a result, England have failed to win any session so far. They have been bowled out for 134 in their first innings.
Ravichandran Ashwin Made A Unique Record:
The off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, has made many records in his long test career. Now, he has added another feather in his cap. The 34-years old has become the first bowler to dismiss 200 left-handed batsmen in the test cricket.
The off-spinners, obviously, find themselves more comfortable against the left-handers. But, Ashwin’s feat is no less, not by any means. No other bowler has managed to dismiss the southpaws more often than Ashwin.
The chart above shows Ashwin’s most frequent victims in the test career. There are all the left-handed batsmen in the top-five batsmen list, which clearly shows Ashwin’s brilliance against the southpaws. The Chennai-born will be hoping to add more wickets in the second innings, and complete 400 test wickets in this series itself.
