The cricketing fraternity keenly watched Ravichandran Ashwin as he marked his return to the ODI format after a 20-month hiatus, playing in the series opener against Australia at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. The decision to bring back the veteran spin-bowling all-rounder was met with mixed reactions, especially given Axar Patel's injury and the imminent ODI World Cup.
Nonetheless, Ashwin silenced the critics by delivering a commendable performance, wrapping up his spell with an economical 10-over quota and securing a crucial, albeit fortunate, wicket.
The standout moment came during the 33rd over when Ashwin squared off against a poised Marnus Labuschagne, who was on the brink of a well-deserved half-century, looking to steer Australia to a dominant position. Deploying his expertise, Ashwin served a tantalizing delivery, which turned inwards as Labuschagne, the Australian No. 4, attempted a reverse sweep. The ball, unfortunately for the batsman, came off his splice, presenting wicketkeeper KL Rahul with a potential catch. However, in a dramatic twist, the ball deflected off Rahul's pads and darted straight onto the stumps.
This unusual turn of events left the commentators baffled. Ashwin, too, appeared equally perplexed, leading to a hesitant appeal from the Indian contingent.
The decision was promptly referred to the third umpire. Upon review, replays indicated that Labuschagne's back foot was perilously on the line when the ball made contact with the stumps. Further scrutiny from the stump camera confirmed that no part of Labuschagne's foot remained within the crease. Consequently, he was declared out, having scored a resilient 39 off 49, with Australia's scoreboard reading 158 for 4.
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Ashwin's lucky wicket marked a significant milestone, being his first ODI wicket after a staggering 611 days. His previous ODI scalp was back on January 19, 2022, in an opening match against South Africa in Paarl, where he successfully dismissed the formidable Quinton de Kock.
By the end of his spell, Ashwin's figures stood at an impressive 1/47 in 10 overs. Although he was targeted for a couple of boundaries by Steve Smith and Labuschagne and two maximums, courtesy of Smith and David Warner, his overall performance underscored his readiness and relevance in the ODI format.
Meanwhile riding on Mohammed Shami's brilliant fifer India limited Australian innings to a total of 276.
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