IND vs ENG: English Skipper Ben Stokes Becomes Ravichandran Ashwin's Top Victim in Test Cricket

Veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin once again won the battle against England captain Ben Stokes during the second innings of first Test match at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. Stokes became Ashwin’s top victim in Test cricket as the Indian spinner got the better of him for the 12th time one more than recently retired Australian opener David Warner.

It was the fifth ball of 37th over and Ashwin picked it a tad full, Stokes leaned forward to defend it but got completely beaten and was bamboozled for just 6. The wicket put England on the backfoot who conceded a 190-run lead after first innings.

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Stokes registered his name at the top of an unwanted list by becoming Ashwin’s victim for the 12th time.

Batters dismissed most times by Ashwin in Tests

12 Ben Stokes

11 David Warner

9 Alastair Cook

8 Tom Latham/ Steve Smith/ Kraigg Brathwaite

Stokes, who is one of the greatest match-winners for England across formats, has a very underwhelming record in front of Ashwin who is marching towards his 500 Test wickets.

Stokes vs Ashwin in Tests

25 innings

232 runs

12 dismissals

Avg 19.33

SR 37.23

Meanwhile, Ashwin also moved up in the list of Indian bowlers dismissing a batter most times in Test cricket.

Indian bowler dismissing a batter most often in Tests

12 Kapil Dev – Mudassar Nazar

12 R Ashwin – B Stokes *

11 Ishant Sharma – A Cook

11 Kapil Dev – G Gooch

11 R Ashwin – D Warner

Earlier, India’s first innings did not last too long once the play resumed in the morning, coming to a close in 54 minutes.

Jadeja could not bring up a much-anticipated fourth Test hundred, falling leg before to Joe Root.

Jadeja went to front foot to defend a length delivery on off-stump, and the ball took a good amount of turn to hit his pads. Umpire Chris Gaffaney raised his finger as Jadeja opted to review the call.

There seemed to be a deflection of the bat but the replays remained inconclusive and the third umpire went with the on-field umpire’s decision.

In the very next ball, Root castled Jasprit Bumrah and Rehan Ahmed cleaned up Axar as India lost the last three wickets without adding any runs.