Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen lashed out at Ravichandran Ashwin over his approach in the IND vs ENG 2nd Test. Questioning the lower-order batter’s gameplan, KP lambasted Bumrah and Ashwin for taking the game nowhere despite India having an upper hand. Ashwin only managed to score 29 runs off 61 deliveries whereas Bumrah got out for a duck after playing 26 deliveries in 44 minutes.
IND vs ENG 2nd Test: KP, others question Ashwin’s intent
Speaking on commentary, Pietersen hit out at Bumrah and Ashwin for allowing England to creep back into the game. Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik shared his two cents on the approach, reckoning Ashwin was waiting for the wicket to detoriate further for the visitors to bat in the 4th innings. Even ex-India coach Ravi Shastri called the spinner’s innings bizarre.
“I don’t understand Ashwin’s gameplan. India were bossing. But Ashwin and Bumrah are taking the game nowhere with this partership. Instead they are allowing England to come back in the game,” Kevin Pietersen said.
“I think Ashwin is taking the time for the wicket to deteriorate further for England to bat in the 4th innings,” Dinesh Karthik countered.
Despite Ashwin and Bumrah’s efforts, India were bowled out for 255 runs. England now need 399 runs to win the 2nd Test and go 2-0 up in the five-match series. Shubman Gill was India’s hero in the 2nd innings as the rest of the batters failed to excel.
Batting at No. 3 for the first time, Gill, 100 off 132 balls steered India to a commanding position. England’s spinners had the upper hand at the close of India’s 2nd innings, with Rehan Ahmed grabbing three wickets while Tom Hartley finished with 4 scalps to his name.
