R Ashwin Recalls MS Dhoni's Words After 2011 West Indies Series

R Ashwin recently recalled the Mumbai Test against West Indies in 2011, which ended as a draw with the scores level. Notably, it was the only second game which was ended this way.

While chasing 243, India required three runs in the last over on Day 5 which was bowled by pacer Fidel Edwards, whereas they had two wickets in hand. Tailender Varun Aaron gave the strike to Ashwin, who had scored a century in the first innings and brought the equation to 2 off 2.

Ashwin then tried to flick the penultimate ball but got an inside edge onto his pad leaving India 2 to score in the final ball. He then hit the ball to the deep and showed no urgency to take the second run. The scores were levelled, but India was not all out, so the game was declared drawn and not tied. Post the game, MS Dhoni had a word with Ashwin and the veteran spinner has recently shared that.

"After the game, MS Dhoni came to me and said, ‘You could have taken a chance in the previous ball. Probably taken a single, and let Varun Aaron slog one off the last ball’. So yeah, that’s hindsight,” Ashwin told Pakistan journalist Mazher Arshad in a Youtube interview.

He further added, “I was pretty young into international cricket and that time whatever I was touching was turning into gold. I had got the MoM in the first Test then I got married in between and then came back to play the Mumbai Test. In the final innings, we looked good to chase, but all of a sudden, we had a collapse. I didn’t want to risk going for a big shot, and then, the next batsman coming in and getting out. Fidel Edwards was getting it to reverse and it would have been difficult for a No.11. we could lose the Test match, from being in a position of strength, it was not even 50-50."

However, he also had to bear the consequences soon after the match as he was criticised on social media for not taking the second run. Although he didn’t take the second run, Ashwin was awarded the Man of the Series for claiming 22 wickets in three games. He was also the Man of the Match as well.

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