IND vs AUS, ICC World Cup 2023: "Stood In Same Place For Entire Innings" - Ashwin Reveals Superstition After Early Kohli Scare

Add as a preferred source on Google

Chennai, October 9: Seasoned-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed his superstition of standing in the same place for entire innings after Virat Kohli survived early scare in India's ICC World Cup 2023 campaign opener against Australia in Chennai on Sunday (October 8).

India defeated Australia by 6 wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, but the outcome could have been different if Mitchell Marsh had taken Kohli's catch when the Indian total was 12/3 in the run chase of 200.

After India sealed the win from being 2 for 3 with the three of the top four departing for ducks, Ashwin revealed his worst fear when Kohli had hit the ball up in the air and how he reacted, but was relived to know the catch was dropped from the Chepauk crowd's cheer.

"When I saw Virat Kohli's ball go up in the air, I ran outside the dressing room. I literally ran all the way outside. I didn't know what to do. I was like 'just wake me up when it's all over'. It was that sort of a feeling," Ashwin told Star Sports after the match.

Ashwin, who played in front of his home crowd in white-ball format for the first time in a long time, also said Australia is not a team to take lightly, but when you get them out for just 199, one has to believe the run chase has to be a breeze.

However, the seasoned spinner felt the Kohli getting out like that is the last thing anybody would want and revealed how he stood in the same place for the entire innings until the match was sealed in the 42nd over.

"Look, I think we have found ourselves in this sort of situation in important big games. When you play Australia, it's never a small game. You do well, shot them off for 199," Ashwin added.

"You think you are going to coast home and then the last thing you want is Virat Kohli getting out like that. The moment the crowd erupted, I ran back into the dressing room. I stood in the same place for the entire innings. My feet is actually paining."

Following that reprive, Kohli went on to score 85 runs, sharing a stand of 165 with KL Rahul, before being dismissed by Josh Hazlewood in the 38th over. Rahul (97 not out) saw the team home along with Hardik Pandya.

Australia skipper Pat Cummins, who said that his team was at least 50 runs short of an ideal total, also added that it was not at all ideal to drop a catch of Kohli.

Kohli was on 12 when Marsh dropped the catch and that dropped catch eventually cost the Aussies the match. Cummins, who admitted that he has forgotten about the dropped catch, added that it is not ideal to be putting down a catch of Kohli's calibre.

"I have already forgotten about it (the drop catch), it happens, 4/10 would have been a dream start. Not ideal, especially for his calibre," Cummins said at the post-match presentation ceremony.