R Ashwin talks about the incident which forced him to sledge Australia's Matt Renshaw

Australia had troubled Indian cricket team at home in 2017.

R Ashwin | REUTERS (FILE PIC)

India is a tough side to defeat at home. The last time when they were challenged in their own backyard was by Australia in 2017. Australia stunned them by winning the first Test of the series at Pune, even though it was a spin-friendly track. 

As the series moved to Bengaluru, they were on backfoot as Australia pounced on the lead from the first Test. After being bowled out on 189 in the first innings, Australia opener Matt Renshaw tested India's patience. 

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In a chat with Cheteshwar Pujara on Instagram live, Ashwin revealed he ended up sledging Renshaw during the first innings. 

“I remember one very, very crucial incident in the 1st innings. Nathan Lyon got 8 wickets in the 1st innings. Nathan Lyon was running riot but by the end of the 1st day, it stopped turning. It was damp,” Ashwin said.

“Anil bhai (Kumble) gave me quite a few suggestions. But I told him that we need to be patient as nothing is happening. Anil bhai said ‘yes, yes. I am not putting pressure on you but you have to do it’.

“Next day when I was bowling, I started bowling over the stumps to Warner and Renshaw. I remember bowling to Renshaw, a couple of balls went here and there.. to short leg and he had this smirky smile so as to suggest they were on top of the game.

“All of a sudden, I got really angry because I was not getting the wickets and I told him ‘you better not defend and make these runs because if you don’t, 4th innings you guys won’t make 100 runs’. I was angry and said it but it eventually panned out.”

India bowled Australia out on 112 runs in the fourth innings when they were chasing 188 for a 2-0 lead in the series. Ashwin picked up 8 wickets in the match, and 6 in the last innings. 

 
 

By - 01 May, 2020

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