India off-spinner R Ashwin has revealed how he angrily sledged Australia batsman Matt Renshaw during the 2017 Bengaluru Test, when he saw the opener’s ‘smirky smile’ during a frustrating phase of the game.
The 2017 India-Australia Test series was one of the most closely-fought contests on Indian soil in recent times, with the hosts claiming a crucial win in the Bengaluru Test after a loss in the opening game in Pune. Recalling an incident from Australia’s first innings, Ashwin said that the ball had stopped turning just a day after Nathan Lyon took eight wickets.
“Nathan Lyon got eight wickets in the first innings. He was running riot, but by the end of the first day, it stopped turning. It was damp,” Ashwin said in an Instagram Live chat with teammate Cheteshwar Pujara.
“By tea, I was with Ajinkya [Rahane], we were coming into the dressing room, and they were sledging as if they had won the game. That is when things did turn around, I felt.”
India set Australia a 188-run target, which they fell short of by 75 runs, with India eventually winning the series 2-1.
