(VIDEO) R Ashwin Takes His First ODI Wicket On Return After 20 Months-TGN

Senior India off-spinner R Ashwin marked his ODI comeback after a gap of 20 months with good figures of 1/47 in 10 overs in the 1st ODI vs Australia on Friday in Mohali.

The pitch at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali was good for batting and the Indian bowlers bore the brunt of David Warner and Steve Smith initially, but the hosts made a good comeback through Mohammed Shami’s five-wicket haul to restrict Australia to 276.

The Indian bowlers were expensive early on, including R Ashwin. The senior off-spinner came into the attack in the 10th over of Australia’s innings with a set Warner and Smith to bowl to. In his second over, Warner dumped Ashwin for a big six, and later on in his spell, Smith took him for a six and four. Labuschagne, too, carved him for a four and Ashwin was removed from the attack.

R Ashwin returned in the 30th over and brought more control over the Aussie batters. Under pressure now, Labuschagne tried to reverse sweep Ashwin, but missed the ball and then was stumped out, although it had more do to with wicket-keeper KL Rahul’s good luck.

The ball hit Rahul’s pad and returned back to hit the stumps. Labuschagne’s back leg was on the crease when the light of the stumps went up. The Aussie batsman was declared out by the third umpire, and R Ashwin got his first wicket on his ODI return.

Watch: R Ashwin gets his first wicket on ODI return after 20 months

India’s stand-in captain KL Rahul won the toss and elected to field first in Mohali.

Teams:

Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis(w), Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Short, Pat Cummins(c), Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa

India (Playing XI): Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w/c), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami