 "‘A lot happened between 500 and 501’: Ravichandran Ashwin’s wife Prithi opens up on off-spinner’s absence in Rajkot")
Ravichandran Ashwin’s wife Prithi recently opened up on the veteran off-spinner’s temporary absence from the third Test between India and England in Rajkot, saying “a lot happened” between his 500th and 501st wickets and that his family had gone through the “longest 48 hours” of their lives.
Ashwin became the ninth bowler in the history of Test cricket as well as the second Indian and the fourth spinner to enter the elite 500-wicket club after dismissing Zak Crawley in the evening session of Day 2. The offie, however, had to fly out of Rajkot later that night due to a family emergency, and was initially ruled out of the remainder of the Rajkot Test.
“We chased the 500 to Hyderabad, it didn’t happen. To Vizag, it didn’t happen. So I just bought a ton of sweets and gave it to everyone at home at 499. 500 came and went quietly. Till it didn’t. A lot happened between 500 and 501. Longest 48hours of our lives.
“But this is about the 500. And the 499 before that. What a phenomenal achievement. What a phenomenal guy. I am insanely proud of you @rashwin99 We love you!,” Priti wrote in a post on Instagram on Sunday.
Ashwin was initially expected to miss the remainder of the third Test, which Team India ended up winning by a record margin of 434 runs to go 2-1 ahead. Ashwin, however, flew back to Rajkot on Sunday and would return to action after tea on Day 4, at which point England had already lost early wickets after being set 557 to win.
Read | India show England who’s the boss with humongous victory in Rajkot Test
Ashwin could collect his second wicket of the match by inducing an inside edge off Tom Hartley’s bat that resulted in the tail ender chopping the ball onto his stumps, collecting his 501st Test wicket in the process. England, meanwhile, would lose wickets in a heap to get bowled out for a meagre 122, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja leading the way with a haul of 5/41.
Impact Shorts
View AllIndia had, earlier in the day, posted a massive 430/4 in their second innings thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s unbeaten 214, his second double-century in as many Tests, as well as half-centuries from Shubman Gill (91) and Sarfaraz Khan (68 not out).
 "'Sovereignty violated, security undermined': China fumes after USS Higgins destroyer 'intrudes' into South China Sea")
 "Will Pakistan go to war with India over the Indus Waters? Or are the threats hollow?")
 "How a diamond pendant led to South Korea's former first lady's imprisonment")
 "Iran sends its top nuclear scientists into hiding. Here’s why")
 "'Sovereignty violated, security undermined': China fumes after USS Higgins destroyer 'intrudes' into South China Sea")
 "Will Pakistan go to war with India over the Indus Waters? Or are the threats hollow?")
 "How a diamond pendant led to South Korea's former first lady's imprisonment")
 "Iran sends its top nuclear scientists into hiding. Here’s why")
