Offspinner R Ashwin is on his way back to rejoin the Indian team in Rajkot on the fourth day of the ongoing third Test against England. He had left the city after play on the second day because of personal reasons and missed the third day’s play entirely.
“Not sure but I think Ash bhai might be coming back,” Kuldeep Yadav said while speaking to the host broadcaster ahead of play on the fourth day. ESPNcricinfo understands that he could be in Rajkot by lunch. Ashwin will be available to bowl as soon as he is needed despite having spent an entire day off the field. The umpires can also waive the requirement of penalty time if they feel the player was off the field for “other wholly acceptable reasons, which shall not include illness or internal injury” according to the playing conditions.
Ashwin had taken his 500th wicket in Test cricket on the second day of the Rajkot Test and attended the press conference after play. It was only at 11pm IST that the news of Ashwin having left the team became public via a statement from the BCCI.
The third day’s play had begun with England on 207 for 2 in 35 overs in response to India’s first-innings total of 445, with opener Ben Duckett batting on a hundred 133 at more than a run a ball. India, however, fought back despite Ashwin’s absence, taking eight wickets for 112 runs on the third day to secure a first-innings lead of 126.
India’s batters had extended that to 322 for the loss of only two second-innings wickets by stumps, with Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring 104 before retiring hurt with a back niggle and Shubman Gill unveaten on 65.
Kuldeep also said that Jaiswal would be fine to resume his innings on the fourth day.
