WATCH | R Ashwin's bizarre dismissal puts India on the backfoot on day 2
© BCCI
Lady luck seemed to have deserted R Ashwin as the spinner was dismissed on Day 2 of the Pune Test when a defensive shot came off his bat, bounced off his foot and was taken by Handscombe at short leg. The decision had to be referred to the third umpire and Ashwin was correctly asked to head back.
Ravichandran Ashwin has been in tremendous form with both the bat and the ball over the last year and finished 2016 with a batting average of 43.71 in 12 Tests. So when India lost three wickets in five balls, all eyes turned to Ashwin to rescue something for the home side. After calmly defending the first two balls of his innings, it was a bizarre dismissal that led to his downfall.Â
On the third ball, Nathan Lyon decided to bowl a slightly quicker and fuller delivery. Ashwin played the ball off the backfoot and appeared to have gotten a good amount of bat on it, and the ball appeared to have taken a bounce before Handscomb took a diving catch. However, the catch was followed by a vociferous appeal from Australia. On-field umpire Richard Kettleborough decided to consult the third umpire, and the replays showed that the ball had indeed bounced off Ashwin's foot, and not the ground, before Handscomb took the catch.Â
The Indian batting just collapsed after that as the Australians started their second innings with a lead of 155 runs.
