Ravichandran Ashwin was delighted after reaching the milestone of 500 wickets in Test cricket, in Rajkot, becoming only the second Indian and the ninth bowler worldwide to achieve this feat. He attributed this significant accomplishment to his father, recognising the steadfast encouragement and support he received from him throughout his career.
“I’m immensely grateful for this journey. I want to dedicate my 500th wicket to my father, who has stood by me through thick and thin. His constant support has been invaluable to me. Now that I’ve achieved 500 wickets, it’s time to focus on the game at hand,” he said after the end of day 1.
Following India’s solid performance with the bat, England aggressively countered, scoring 207 runs in just 35 overs, spearheaded by Ben Duckett’s unbeaten 133.
Reflecting on England’s approach, Ashwin noted about their aggressive tactics, which prevented India from strategising effectively. “The way England is playing, they’re not allowing us much time to think or plan. Their attacking approach is keeping us on our toes. We need to bowl well and capitalise on any opportunities that come our way.”
Ashwin then shared his views on the pitch, which he believes would get difficult to bat as the match progresses. “I anticipate the pitch becoming increasingly challenging for batting, especially by day five. We must persevere and remain resilient. While England is applying pressure, it’s crucial for us to counter effectively and regain control of the game.”
Meanwhile, Mark Wood lauded Duckett for his courage and skill that he displayed during England’s impressive counterattack.
“To be that far behind in the game and go out and play like that showed real bravery and skill. Sometimes, it looked like India weren’t sure of their fields. The way they changed the field and then he’d hit it somewhere else, it was such a skilful innings against a good attack. He’s a nightmare to bowl at in the nets, we try to get him to leave one but he never leaves any.”
Like Ashwin, Wood also believes that the match is evenly poised and could tip either way based on the morning session tomorrow. “The game is finely balanced. If India gets wickets, they’ll be on top, but if we build another partnership, we’ll seize the advantage. It’s crucial to keep things in perspective. Bowling on that wicket was tough, and we felt the strain as a bowling unit. Let’s see how both teams fare with the bat. We feel we’re right in the mix.”