The IND vs SA Test series is sure to throw up some smaller battles that has to be won for either side to get an advantage in the series. Kagiso Rabada vs Ravichandran Ashwin is one such battle. The Indian off-spinner, who received a late call-up to the IND vs 1st Test’s team after Ravindra Jadeja was ruled out with a back spasm, will be keen to hold on to his position at the top of ICC Test bowlers’ rankings. However, it will not be easy. Ashwin on Tuesday watched from the pavillion as 2nd ranked Kagiso Rabada bulldozed through the Indian batting line-up, closing his gap with the off-spinner.
Ashwin, who is just 11 wickets away from taking 500 Test wickets, sit at the top of ICC Test bowlers’ rankings with 879 rating points to his name, Rabada on the other hand is at the second place, with 825 rating points. However, Rabada’s four-wicket haul on Tuesday is sure to reduce the gap between the two bowler.
Kagiso Rabada on song
Rabada on Tuesday produced an excellent display to place South Africa in a commanding position in the first day of the IND vs SA 2nd Test. The Proteas pace bowler was unstoppable with the new ball, getting rid of some of India’s top batters. Rabada started his onslaught by sending Indian captain Rohit Sharma back at the pavillion. Rohit pulled a short delivery straight to fine leg to depart early. Just when it looked like India were crawling back into the game with the partnership of Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli, Rabada struck again, exploiting the space between Iyer’s bat and pad to break the stumps.
Rabada then went on to break Indian hearts with a beautiful delivery outside off-stump to take the wicket of set batter Virat Kohli. Kohli pushed at the good-length ball but the ball swung ever-so-slightly to take an edge off Kohli’s bat and land into South African wicketkeeper’s stumps. Ashwin became Rabada’s fourth wicket, nicking another good-length delivery to second slip.
With the four-wicket haul, Rabada will be eyeing the top spot of ICC Test bowlers’ rankings. It will be up to Ashwin to stop that from happening. The off-spinner will be getting his chance for sure, but Ashwin has to take a lot of wickets in the series to keep Rabada from dethroning him as the top ranked Test bowler.
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