Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin escaped a strange run-out on Friday during the T20I series opener against the West Indies at Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad.
Ashwin returned to the Indian T20I side after a span of more than eight months. He last played in the format in the second T20I match against New Zealand in November 2021.
India posted 190/6 in 1st T20I
India was asked to bat by Nicholas Pooran and the visitors had a surprise to unveil Suryakumar Yadav as the new opening partner to skipper Rohit Sharma.
Suryakumar made 24 in 16 balls before getting caught by Jason Holder off Akeal Hosein’s bowling. Rohit went ahead and brought up his 27th half-century to end the drought with his struggles in the last few months, particularly in this format.
Rohit was dismissed in the 15th over on 64 and then walked in Dinesh Karthik to carry the show. Karthik was absolutely best in his finishing role for the team staying to all the hype for his comeback in the Blue jersey. Karthik smashed four boundaries and two sixes in his 19-ball 41-run knock with India posting 190/6 on the board.
Watch – Obed McCoy miss the opportunity to run out R Ashwin
Ashwin was watching his Tamil Nadu teammates clubbing for the big shots against an insipid West Indies bowling attack. Ashwin remained not out in 13 from 10 balls and hit one six off Holder in the 18th over.
Before Ashwin dispatched the ball into the stands, he survived a run-out opportunity in what one could say was a brain fade moment for West Indies bowler Obed McCoy. Karthik drove straight down the ground and called for two runs, but Ashwin was way out of his crease as he dived at the non-striker’s end.
What just happened?
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The queer feeling to watch was McCoy, who had the ball in his hands, didn’t dislodge the bails while Ashwin was putting in the dive. McCoy, perhaps, assumed that the burly Indian all-rounder was already inside the crease.
India went on to win the match by 68 runs after holding the hosts at 122 for 8 in the end.
The next T20I game between West Indies and India will be held on August 1 at Warner Park in St Kitts.
