Ashwin went for some variations, used his crease against Black Caps openers Tom Latham and Will Young. The right-arm spinner even tried bowling across the stumps before he eventually got rid of Young for 89.
However, the on-field umpires weren’t impressed with Ashwin’s followthrough action when he was bowling across the stumps and warned him a few times. It happened during the 77th over of New Zealand’s innings when Ashwin decided to go around the wicket against Kane Williamson. Umpire Nitin Menon had a word with the offie as he was finishing his action in front of him.
A few deliveries later, Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane was called by the umpires regarding Ashwin’s followthrough action. Then, at the start of the 80th over, there was a heated discussion between the umpires and Rahane and Ashwin.
The whole incident left former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar furious as he lashed out at the umpires on air, questioning if Ashwin was not going into the danger area, what was the exact issue then? Gavaskar also asked whether there was any sort of penalty for bowlers for bowling by going across the stumps.
“Rahane was coming in to say that if Ashwin is veering away and not going into the danger area, what is the issue. I think it is tough on the umpire because he might not be able to see what happens. What is the penalty? Is it written? It isn’t something that I know of. There is a penalty if the ball hits the helmet, but what is the penalty if Ashwin keeps doing that? Do you think Ashwin will keep pushing that envelope?” said Gavaskar as quoted by Hindustan Times.
Ashwin enjoyed a great day eventually as he went on to take three wickets before India packed New Zealand’s first innings at 296.
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