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Indian players give a guard of honour to Ashwin in his 100th Test at Dharamsala

Initially, the post-lunch battle between bat and ball seemed evenly matched, with Crawley and Root handling tough overs from Kuldeep and Bumrah.

By Omar | Mar 7, 2024 | 2 Min Read

In the IND vs ENG clash, Team India players honoured Ravichandran Ashwin with a guard of honour as he stepped onto the field for his 100th Test in Dharamsala. The heartwarming moment, captured on video, quickly went viral on social media, showcasing the off-spinner’s acknowledgement of the crowd during the process.

Head coach Rahul Dravid presented the 37-year-old cricketer with his cap for the landmark 100th Test, with the presence of Ashwin’s wife, Prithi Narayanan. Since his Test debut in 2011, Ashwin has evolved into one of India’s prominent match-winners, particularly excelling on home soil. The Tamil Nadu-born player also showcased his batting prowess, contributing with five centuries, three of which were achieved in India.

The 3rd Test in Rajkot witnessed Ashwin surpassing the milestone of 500 Test wickets, dismissing Zak Crawley in the process. During a pre-match press conference, the veteran spinner emphasized the significance of his journey to 100 Tests, citing the 2012-13 series defeat to England as a turning point. Recounting his struggles against England and the looming threat of being dropped for the subsequent series against Australia, Ashwin reflected on the pivotal moments that shaped his career.

The England team, having won the toss, opted to bat first in the Dharamsala Test, setting the stage for a historic match on Ashwin’s monumental occasion. England started well but India slowly got back into the game in the session after lunch.

Initially, the post-lunch battle between bat and ball seemed evenly matched, with Crawley and Root handling tough overs from Kuldeep and Bumrah. However, Crawley’s efforts crumbled when he attempted a step-out-and-drive against Kuldeep, triggering another middle-order collapse. England, which was at 137/2, rapidly descended to 183/8 within 13 overs.

Despite Bairstow’s attempt to inject some intent and surpass 6000 runs in Test cricket, it was the lone positive note in an otherwise dismal session for the visitors.