Everybody knows what happens when you drop a catch under Virat Kohli’s leadership. You can get an angry gaze or a frown and even a few seething words. And every Indian player is aware of it. And why shouldn’t the captain be angry? Despite fielding coach R Sridhar’s hardwork on India’s fielding, players have been dropping catches all through the series against England. The anger gets more intense when it is a senior player who dropped an absolute sitter. It was India’s bowling mainstay R Ashwin to drop a catch on Day 1 of the third Test against England.
R Ashwin dropped the easiest catch one can get in international cricket. England’s captain Alastair Cook chipped a straight catch to Ashwin of Mohammed Shami’s bowling. After he dropped the catch, Shami was devastated. He was already celebrating when the ball was travelling to Ashwin. But he was visibly upset when the catch was dropped, especially by Ashwin who is considered among the safest pair of hands in the Indian team. Indian captain Kohli was livid. He didn’t say anything but he was upset. Ashwin was also embarrassed by this. He was dejected and his shoulders were down. But a sportsman is what sportsman does. Ashwin brought back the smile on the face of his captain.
In the very first ball bowled to Alastair Cook, R Ashwin got Cook out. Cook was caught behind by Parthiv Patel who made his comback after 8 years. Patel took a great catch. Captain Kohli was caught on camera giving a friendly nudge to Ashwin as the team was celebrating Cook’s wicket.
England were 205 for the loss of 5 wickets at tea. Ashwin, Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Jayant Yadav, Mohammed Shami all have one wicket each to their credit.
India are leading the 5-match series 1-0. India defeated England by 246 runs.
