On the third day of the Hyderabad Test between India and England, Ravichandran Ashwin once again showcased his mastery over Ben Stokes, dismissing the England skipper for the 12th time in Test cricket.
As England found themselves struggling at 140/4 in their second innings, Stokes’ arrival at the crease demanded a cautious approach. However, Ashwin’s magical delivery in the 37th over proved too much for the English captain.
Employing an off and middle stump line, Ashwin delivered a fuller ball that turned just enough to beat Stokes’ forward defense, dislodging the off-stump in the process. Stokes, who had been England’s top-scorer in the first innings with 70 runs, could only manage 6 runs off 33 balls before walking back to the pavilion.
WATCH: Ashwin brilliant ball dismiss Stokes
India, after folding for 436 in their first innings, secured a commanding lead of 190 runs. Ravindra Jadeja led the charge with 87 runs, well-supported by KL Rahul (86), Yashasvi Jaiswal (80), Akshar Patel (44), and KS Bharat (41), who all made significant contributions with the bat.
In their second innings, England found themselves at 292/6 after 71 overs at the time of writing, with Ollie Pope unbeaten on a resilient 136 runs. With Rehan alongside him at 5*, England aims to narrow down the deficit and set a competitive target for the hosts.
Ashwin’s brilliance with the ball has once again highlighted his importance in India’s bowling attack, particularly against key opposition batsmen like Stokes. As the match progresses, India remains in a strong position, poised to clinch victory in what promises to be an enthralling Test encounter in Hyderabad.