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Published 09:55 IST, September 2nd 2023

'He was hyper': R Ashwin recalls how Rahul Dravid got super excited in T20 World Cup match

R Ashwin reveals what was happening in the dug out, during India's chase in the epic encounter against Pakistan at MCG in ICC T20 World Cup 2022.

Reported by: Prateek Arya
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'He was hyper': R Ashwin recalls how Rahul Dravid got super excited in T20 World Cup match
R Ashwin celebrates after playing the winning shot (Image: AP) | Image: self

Ahead of the ever-enthralling India vs. Pakistan encounter in the Asia Cup 2023, veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin revisited Team India's famous victory over the arch-rivals in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. While it was Virat Kohli's stupendous knock of 82 runs that got the men at blue on the line that day, it was Ashwin, who held his nerves in the end and got India over the line. Ashwin played the winning shot as India won the match by 4 wickets.

3 things you need to know

  • India defeated Pakistan by 4 wickets in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022
  • Virat Kohli played a match-winning knock of 82
  • Ashwin scored the winning shot in the match

READ: 'You average only 18': R Ashwin on whether Axar Patel and Jadeja should play together

Ashwin reveals how Rahul Dravid reacted during India's epic win over Pakistan

Ashwin, who has burst onto the scene of YouTube, recently shared the tale of the Ind vs. Pak match that was played at MCG on October 23, 2022.  He revealed what was the reaction of Rahul Dravid during India's chase and how the mood dramatically changed when Kohli smacked two consecutive sixes of Haris Rauf that day. 

"It was so cold that day, I was shivering. Rahul bhai was like 'Come on Ash'. When we were 45/4 after 10 overs, he was so sad. But then everyone got super excited. What a shot that was against Haris Rauf! I punched the dugout with my gloves for one of his shots. The Josh was pretty high! Anyway, when I went in, he was hyper and I was like 'OK sure'.

Ashwin divulges what was going on his mind that day when he was in the middle

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As Kohli was stranded on the other end, Ashwin was on strike and the dire requirement of 2 runs of 1 delivery was in front of him. Though the equation was simple and he just had to make the right contact with the bat, Ashwin judged the trajectory of the ball and left it to get a wide, and the rest is history. Ashwin recently laid out what was going in his mind when 2 were needed of 1. 

I thought Nawaz, 'please bowl it wide outside off, I will smash it over covers and start running.' That was my mind-voice. Genuinely speaking, I used to play street cricket with my area friends. I used to play near a lamppost. We have run only in the off-side. If you bowl on the leg side, you should know how to leave it and get a wide. So, I just used my stree-cricket experience and got us a wide. Of course, you need the presence of mind to do that.

Updated 12:27 IST, September 2nd 2023