Oh yes, it happened and how! The ball literally did a ‘moonwalk’ on Ravichandran Ashwin’s forearms before he finally pouched it. He is usually someone who is preferred as a sweeper on the ropes, close in fielding and reflexes is not really Ashwin’s forte, but today he proved us all wrong by doing a leapfrog, a juggler before finally grasping it. Oh Ashwin, you truly are an allrounder.
It came at a time when Team India and Kohli were desperately looking to get into the lower middle order of Australia and there was a partnership that had just started to blossom. Matthew Renshaw and Peter Handscomb was were looking well set and positive.
It was 160 for 3 after 76 overs and India then were looking to go into tea with a couple more. Jadeja was the bowler, he came round the wicket and bowled a flatter trajectory, just outside off stump.
Handscomb advances down the wicket, flicks one in the air. Ashwin, who is stationed at a short mid wicket on the leg side, covers five with his body to the right, feet on the ground, hands-outstretched. He showed reached and the awareness not to allow the arms to hit the ground hard. It pops out a bit, does a moonwalk till Ashwin safely has it under his control. Australia lose another one in the piece at a very crucial juncture.
Come day three, Ashwin will first have to finish off the Australian tail which has shown it can hurt India. India would also be wary of that, and would be hoping Ashwin does the finishing rights.
