IND v AUS 2023: WATCH- Australia hire off-spinner Mahesh Pithiya to prepare for R Ashwin challenge

Pithiya's bowling action is uncannily similar to that of R Ashwin.

The Australian team has arrived in Bengaluru to prepare for the upcoming four-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series which begins with the first Test in Nagpur on February 9. Currently, the Aussies are prepping at the KSCA ground in Alur on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

The visitors have opted to have a camp instead of a tour game and leaving no stone unturned, have reeled in Junagadh’s Mahesh Pithiya, a right-arm off-spinner whose action is very similar to that of ace Indian off-spinner R Ashwin.

Pithiya, who has played 4 FC and 1 T20 match for Baroda having made his debut recently, is training with the Australian batters to help them tackle Ashwin’s spin-bowling prowess in the crucial Border-Gavaskar series.

Interestingly, Pithiya’s action is a natural one and he had not seen Ashwin bowl until he was 11 years old since his family did not have a television set by then. Ashwin became Pithiya’s idol the first time he saw him play for India against West Indies in 2013.

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He caught the eyes of Pathan brothers Irfan and Yusuf in Baroda and since then has trained closely with Yusuf Pathan. He was called to bowl to Australian batters by his friend, Pritesh Joshi, a throwdown specialist from Baroda.

"It is my dream to meet him (Ashwin) someday and I hope that happens soon,” Pithiya was quoted by Cricbuzz.

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There was constant encouragement from the Australian vice-captain Steve Smith, the many "well-bowled mate" calls interspersed with queries about what Pithiya had changed with his release to make the ball go a certain way. The offie managed to clean bowl Smith after the batter tried to sweep him and got bowled.

Even Australian opener Matthew Renshaw exclaimed, "this guy bowls just like Ashwin" from the adjoining net.

Check out the video here: