Ravichandran Ashwin gave a verbal send-off to Jonny Bairstow after Jasprit Bumrah trapped the English batter right in front of the stumps during the morning session of Day 4 of the ongoing Vizag Test between India and England. The incident transpired during the fourth ball of the 43rd over when Bumrah's booming reserve-swinging delivery evaded Bairstow's inside edge and struck the batter's back pad. All the Indian players went up in appeal and the on-field umpire raised his finger.
Bairstow reviewed the decision and during that moment Ashwin, who was walking past the English batter, had something to say. The entire incident was caught on the camera which revealed Bairstow also reacting to Ashwin's words. As it transpired, the DRS displayed umpires call on wickets hitting and Bairstow had to walk back to the pavilion.
Watch the video here:
A gripping session of Test cricket
The pivotal morning session of Day 4 tipped the scales of the Test match in India's favour, with England reeling at 194/6 after 42.4 overs. The session's play significantly swayed the game's direction, putting England under considerable pressure. The promising start by Zak Crawley and Rehan Ahmed was disrupted when Axar Patel claimed the wicket of Rehan. Crawley's valiant effort of 73 runs held the innings together until a strategic review by India just before the lunch break led to his dismissal.
Ravichandran Ashwin emerged as the destroyer of the English middle order, claiming three crucial wickets and edging closer to a monumental milestone of 500 Test wickets. Jasprit Bumrah complemented Ashwin's efforts with a stellar performance of his own, particularly shining in his second spell by taking down Jonny Bairstow with a pivotal review decision, prompting an early lunch break.
England's hopes are now pinned on Ben Stokes, who is yet to face a ball at the crease, alongside Ben Foakes, whose contributions with the bat have been minimal in the series so far. Stokes, known for his ability to turn games around, is expected to back himself in attempting to steer England out of troubled waters. With England requiring another 205 runs for a win and India just four wickets away from clinching victory, the match is poised for an intriguing conclusion. Stokes's history of remarkable comebacks adds an element of anticipation, as England looks to him for another miraculous performance to salvage the game.
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