'We all knew he was dangerous, but that first shot he played off Jasprit Bumrah, that cover drive, off the front foot.' 'It told me that this is a player in prime, prime form.'
India pace bowler Akash Deep played down concerns over skipper Rohit Sharma's knee injury in the build-up to the fourth Test against Australia this week after the batsman was hit during a practice session on Sunday.
Star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has called for an improved performance from India's batting unit in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, saying the lack of runs from the top-order builds pressure on the lower-order.
Ravichandran Ashwin's wife Prithi Narayanan penned a heartfelt tribute for her husband following his recent retirement from international cricket, saying "it is time to set the burden of being you down" and embrace life beyond the game.
For Shastri, India's recent successes in Test cricket have often been defined by the stubbornness and resilience of the tail-enders.
"I will be walking out with you to bat at the MCG," R Ashwin told Virat Kohli in a short note on X Friday, a subtle and endearing demonstration of their closeness in the team.
Ravichandran Ashwin's father was taken by surprise at his son's sudden retirement from international cricket, hinting that he may have felt humiliated. What do you think?
Nathan McSweeney, who opened in the first three Tests with little success, has been dropped.
Veteran India pacer Mohammad Shami will be rested for Bengal's Vijay Hazare Trophy opener against Delhi on Saturday in Hyderabad, the Cricket Association of Bengal announced on Thursday.
Just-retired R Ashwin's father Ravichandran kicked up a controversy on Thursday by claiming that "humiliation" could have been a reason for his son's decision to call it quits but the veteran off-spinner made light of the "dad comment", blaming it on lack of media training.
Ravichandran, father of veteran off-spinner Ashwin, said he was caught off guard by his son's sudden retirement from international cricket, but stunningly hinted that there could be underlying reasons for it, including him feeling "humiliated".
India's World Cup-winning skipper Kapil Dev would like to know why Ravichandran Ashwin decided to call it a day all of a sudden.
Ashwin was seen taking bowling lessons of the support staff in an indoor net facility.
'Maybe he got some indication from the team management that he is no longer in the scheme of things.'
India managed to keep the five-Test series level at 1-1 heading into the Boxing day Test in Melbourne, the fragility of their top order remains a major concern for the tourists.
Ravichandran Ashwin returned home on Thursday after his shock international retirement in the middle of a Test series in Australia
Appeared in 61 Tests won by India. Only Sachin Tendulkar (72) and Virat Kohli (62) have been part of a winning XI on more occasions for India.
Australia must avoid defeat in Melbourne to keep their hopes alive of taking back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
A cricketer only calls time when he knows that he has had "enough" and something must have snapped within Ravichandran Ashwin when he decided to announce his retirement , former India opener WV Raman
Ashwin acknowledged the emotional turmoil he was experiencing, despite his calm demeanour.
If one has to analyse Ashwin the cricketer, it is very difficult to ignore Ashwin, the person, who had a very independent mind and a brain that probably ticked 24x7. He believed in de-construction of his art and became craftier one ball at a time.
By avoiding the follow-on and standing firm against Australia's aggression, India ensured that they stayed alive in the series.
'Normally, you tend to look at the end of the series. That's it. In the middle, it is not usual.'
With 765 international scalps in his bag, Ashwin is the second-highest wicket-taker from India after Anil Kumble.
An astute reader of the game both on and off the field, Ashwin might have gauged what was in store going forward and that perhaps made it easier for him to take a call.
'The brain would always react first, he was an intelligent cricketer, a good thinking cricketer.'
The 38-year-old was brief while announcing that Wednesday marked his last day as an international cricketer.
'I do feel there's a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to ... showcase that in club level cricket.'
Travis Head played down concerns over his fitness after appearing to struggle with a potential groin issue
The 38-year-old played the day-night Test in Adelaide and picked up one wicket.
Rohit Sharma hailed the resilience of the lower-order batters after his team managed to salvage a crucial draw in the rain-hit third Test against Australia in Brisbane
Here's how fans reacted on social media...
With a heavy downpour preventing the resumption of play after the break, the match was abandoned and the series remains locked at 1-1.
IMAGES from Day 5 of the 3rd Test played at The Gabba in Brisbane on Wednesday.
2024 has not been a productive year for the skipper as far as Test cricket is concerned.
On Day 5 of the 3rd Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, Bumrah shook up Australia's top order early after lunch to carve his name in the annals of Indian cricket history.
On Day 4 of the Brisbane Test, Akash Deep delivered a fearless and career-defining performance to help India avoid the follow-on.
'It will be unfair to say that he is out of form on the basis of two innings. He has already scored a hundred in this series. How many players have got a hundred in the series?'
His persistence was rewarded with the wickets of Rishabh Pant, skipper Rohit Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravindra Jadeja spread across Days 3 and 4 of the ongoing Test.
'You have to respect if the ball's moving, you have to give it to the fast bowlers and just soak in that pressure and wait for your time to score runs.'
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