Video: Ravi Ashwin makes AB de Villiers dance to his tune
Ravi Ashwin, who is currently standing at the top of the list of highest Test wicket-takers for 2015, has been instrumental in India’s conquest of South Africa in the Test series. His 12 wickets in the Nagpur Test helped his team to a resounding 124-run victory.
Ashwin started off Day 3 by scalping Dean Elgar, forcing AB de Villiers to come out. What followed was a delicious duel between arguably the two best practitioners of batting and bowling in world cricket currently.
De Villiers stayed at the crease for 21 balls only, consigning his team to defeat. Living dangerously, he was caught plumb lbw by a carrom ball from Ashwin – a ball that was preceded by a carefully thought out progression of deliveries.
As Ashwin explained the wicket after the day’s play, “I fancy myself against anybody who comes out to bat. AB de Villiers' wicket was planned well.”
23.4: WICKET! AB de Villiers (9) is out, lbw Ravichandran Ashwin, 58/4 https://t.co/B6XtbzPZBa #IndvsSA
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 27, 2015
Video of the duel (Credit: Indian Cricket Team Facebook page) –
Ashwin vs AB - What a juicy contest it was this morning with Ashwin all smiles at the end of it #IndvsSA
Posted by Indian Cricket Team on Thursday, November 26, 2015
De Villiers’ wicket was the 51st of the year for Ashwin, who thus drew alongside Stuart Broad as the most prolific wicket-taker in this year. Ashwin would go on to take four more wickets to wrap the match up and take sole spot of pride at the top of 2015’s wicket-taking charts.