R Ashwin hit the winning run for India during memorable four-wicket win over Pakistan.
India's bowling coach, Paras Mhambrey, revealed that it was R Ashwin who came up with his plan rather than the team management giving any specific instructions to the veteran off-spinner on how to hit the winning run in the final ball of the last over thriller against Pakistan at the MCG on October 23.
While Virat Kohli was the star of the India vs Pakistan Super 12 match, Ashwin also showed his composure and his presence of mind to help Team India pull off a remarkable 4-wicket win over the Men in Blue at the packed MCG to kick start their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign on a high.
Mhambrey said at the press conference: “Actually, it's the other way round. He tells us, ‘This is what I'm going to do'. It's just the way he is. The individual is so full of composure, and his presence of mind to actually leave the ball... any other individual at that stage would swing his bat, but that's Ashwin for you.”
He also said that Ashwin provides batting depth to the Indian team, and that’s why he got the nod for the first two matches in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, where they won both games.
Mhambrey signed off by saying, “We look at the batting combination of the teams we are playing. You do your own homework—which players are struggling, which type of bowlers their batters are struggling against. So that is one aspect. The other thing which works in favour of Ashwin is that he can contribute with the bat. So, we will look at both these things.”