Visakhapatnam: India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin produced yet another great show with the ball, to take claim the 22nd 5-wicket haul of his Test career.
However, the 30-year-old broke a personal duck against England, as this was his first ever 5-wicket haul against the Three Lions.
"Hadn't had a five-wicket haul against England, but it was not at the top of my mind," Ashwin said after the match.
"I knew I would get it if I stuck to what I do right. The challenges are actually a hassle for the batsmen. Not every ball spins. I was in the middle of very good rhythm.”
The visitors struggled on a rank turner against India, as they were skittled out for just 255 runs – 200 short of the hosts’ first innings total.
Ashwin took three key wickets in the top order – Ben Duckett, Ben Stokes, and the Joe Root. The latter’s wicket is perhaps the most important for India, as Root is one of England’s best players of spin bowling.
Interestingly, Ashwin revealed in an interview after the end of the day’s play, that both he and Kohli had devised a plan to get root out.
“I told Virat I will get Root out caught out at short midwicket. Virat said let's get mid-on up and make him go for a slog sweep,” said Ashwin.
“I thought the moment he steps out I was going to go wider. That worked. The last wicket was slow so I changed my action to create more air space,” he continued. “It is not about trials, it is about having the heart to try it in the middle of the game. I am sure I have it.”
