IND vs ENG | Twitter reacts to Ashwin adding 'penguin' variation to ever-expanding arsenal

01/28/2024

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The only thing that can perhaps rival the frequency of change in the public perception of Bazball is the number of experiments Ravichandran Ashwin conducts while bowling. The off-spinner's latest perplexing innovation saw him run in waddling like a penguin with little hopping actions.

‌England made a match of what seemed like a foregone conclusion on Days 3 and 4 of the first Test against India on the back of a phenomenal Ollie Pope 196 in Hyderabad to set the hosts a target of 231. The top-order batter dominated the lethal spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel on a tricky deck like few other batters have managed over the past decade. He took to the crease on Sunday with an overnight score of 148 and had already added 15 runs to his tally when Ravichandran Ashwin was handed the ball for his first spell of the day in the 81st over. With the 26-year-old seemingly looking indomitable, the veteran resorted to unusual tricks in an attempt to pry out the prize wicket.

Ashwin started his over with an innocous delivery down leg that was left alone by Pope. The off-spinner then responded by raising both legs to his hamstring alternatively in a weird run-up, like some vague crossover between a penguin and a kangaroo, and stopped for a brief moment before his delivery action to deliver a slightly quicker straighter one. However, an unfazed Pope confidently pushed the ball away and eventually succumbed to Jasprit Bumrah 17 overs later with the visitors needing a final hurrah after having lost nine wickets in the innings.

Twitterati as always was amused by Ashwin's constant search for new ways to trick batters and took to social media to dissect the latest developments in the veteran's arsenal.

Meet Mr. R Penguin Ashwin

pic.twitter.com/pf9Ks3lWad
— Jas Pope (@jas_pope93438) January 28, 2024

Dismantled

Ashwin, Jadeja and Bumrah dismantling #Bazball . Well played Ollie Pope, Well bowled Ravichandran Ashwin Anna, Sir Jadeja and Boom Boom Jasprit Bumrah 🫡..#INDvsENG #RavindraJadeja #Ashwin #SirJadeja #TestCricket #Jaddu #WTC25 #Bumrah #Jadeja pic.twitter.com/1OVDsC0Y7p
— Ashutosh Srivastava 🇮🇳 (@sri_ashutosh08) January 28, 2024

impressive

impressive performance, ollie pope! scoring 196 runs (278 balls) against ashwin, jadeja, bumrah, and axar in the 3rd innings of a test is truly remarkable. pic.twitter.com/DbbHi7zkhs
— Shany (@shany_w56) January 28, 2024

Good stratergy

Last 5 overs bowled by 5 different bowlers for India

Over 99- Siraj

100- Axar

101- Ashwin(Hartley dismissed)

102- Jadeja(Wood gone)

103- Bumrah (Pope gone)
— Raghava (@belongs2raghu) January 28, 2024

Scientist

#Ashwin @ashwinravi99 is the scientist of spin bowling. Amazing skills and execution #ENGvsIND
— Bilal Ahsan Dar (@BilalAhsanDar) January 28, 2024

Take a bow

TAKE A BOW, OLLIE POPE...!!! 🫡

196 (278) against Ashwin, Jadeja, Bumrah and Axar. This is an unbelievable display of batting in the 3rd innings of a Test. He's given hopes to England, what a game changing knock by Pope.#INDvsENG
— shoaib (@BoltBatsman) January 28, 2024

Ashwin in a league of his own!

Most wickets for🇮🇳India after 33 Tests

183 R Ashwin

155 R Jadeja

146 #JaspritBumrah*

144 Harbhajan/ A Kumble

143 EAS Prasanna#INDvENG #INDvsENG #AUSvWI #Bumrah Gill Bazball Jaiswal Stokes #CricketTwitter #UsmanKhawaja Siraj #RohitSharma Ollie Pope Gabba Steve Smith pic.twitter.com/53z81b1qPY
— Maharshi (@CricMaharshi) January 28, 2024

Still 6 wickets

Not a rank turner so no fifer for Ashwin 🤣 I want this entire series to be like this and see what Ashwin does
— `` (@KohlifiedGal) January 28, 2024

Pumped up

Ashwin gets Hartley#INDvsENG #AUSvsWI #TejaswiPrakash #RoyalRumble    #WrestleMania    #HBDShrutiHaasan #Jawan #MunawarKiJanta #KLRahul #BabarAzam𓃵 https://t.co/ogctEsdCPa
— CricketFever (@cricketdun33317) January 28, 2024