Published 09:49 IST, November 15th 2019
Ashwin gets stumped by reporter's 'clean & pure' question, makes honest admission
India's ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin breached yet another landmark in his career as he picked up his 250th Test scalp in the first Test against Bangladesh
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India's ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin breached yet another landmark in his career as he picked up his 250th Test scalp in the first Test against Bangladesh on Thursday. However, Ashwin was left stumped by a reporter off the field during the press briefing after the day's play. During the briefing, a reporter chose to ask Ashwin a question, in what the spinner described as 'clean & pure' Hindi, about how he felt about the pink balls and playing in the historic first-ever Day-Night Test. Ashwin, who looked like he tried his best to catch up with the question, lost his flow of comprehension following which the entire room bursts out laughing. The ace spinner then goes on to make an honest admission that while he did try to improve his Hindi over the years, he was still not able to understand such clean and pure Hindi and congratulated the reporter for having him bowled.
"Having said that, I think the next Test, the pink-ball game, is a great welcoming sign. As a Test-playing country, it was necessary for India since people who miss cricket because of work will come and watch", said Ashwin.
"Obviously with the pink ball, there are potentially more challenges. The ball will have more lacquer and will move more in the next match. Personally I think it's the right direction we've taken, hopefully, the Test match will be a historic moment and start of many more to come", he added.
Ashwin gets stumped by reporter's question
Ashwin joins an elite list
Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque became Ashwin’s latest victim when he failed to pick up a drifting delivery. Haque joined the crease early in the innings and started damage-control with Mushfiqur Rahim. Haque played a patient inning of 37 runs before getting castled by the off-spinner. Playing his 69th Test and 39th at home, Ashwin achieved the milestone and joined an elite list of Indian spinners. Previously, legendary spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh also reached this illustrious milestone. Having played 57 Test matches at home, retired cricketer Anil Kumble ended his career with 350 wickets in the format. Overall, he accounted for 619 Test wickets and is India’s most successful bowler of all time. Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh has picked up 265 wickets in his 50 home Tests.
09:25 IST, November 15th 2019