Watch: R Ashwin explains ‘third finger’ carrom ball that bamboozled Marnus Labuschagne

Ashwin, who has made a comeback to the ODI side for the first time since January 2022, has started well in the three-match series against Australia, picking four wickets from the first two games.

In the second game at Indore, Ashwin was exceptional with his variations and ended up picking three wickets. The last time Ashwin picked three wickets in an ODI before the Indore match was in 2017.

One of the three wickets Ashwin claimed was that of Labuschagne, who was bamboozled by a sliding carrom ball. Looking at the flatter trajectory, Labuschagne went back and played for the off-spinner. Instead, the ball drifted in to the right-hander and then held its line after pitching, beating his outside edge by a fair margin and crashing into his stumps.

In a video released by BCCI today, Ashwin explained his logic behind using that carrom ball at that stage. “I wanted to keep the length perfectly, in terms of trying to keep it away from the batter and also change pace,” said Ashwin. “I think Marnus tried to play a reverse sweep before that. So, I was expecting him to try and reverse and then probably try to slog sweep and all that. So I wanted to keep my pace up and down, just in case [he] gave the stumps away.”

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Ashwin explained how the carrom ball that got rid of Labuschagne was different than the traditional carrom ball he used to bowl and why he felt the need to develop it: “I felt they were not picking it off the hand that very well. So maybe that angle that I’m creating and the change of grip. I’m using my third finger to bowl the carrom ball and the off-break. So maybe, hopefully, it will hold me in good stead.

“I worked a little bit with Sairaj [Bahutule] at NCA. Working on different angles and slightly different grips. For how much ever cricket I have played over the years, should have done this a long time ago. But I am doing it now at least. So I am glad.

“What I was pleased was with the amount of uncertainty I was able to create with respect to both edges of the blade is something that I have been working on and wanting to do it, because when I go into this sort of a carrom ball, slider mode, the angles are pretty similar, the lines and the release points are very similar. So I wanted to bring both edges into play, which I was able to do. It has been in the offing for a while and I’m glad I was able to execute.”

Watch Ashwin explain the logic and preparation behind the carrom ball that dismissed Marnus Labuschagne:

🗣️ R Ashwin decodes THAT Marnus Labuschagne dismissal that has got everyone talking! 👌 👌 – By @28anand #TeamIndia | #INDvAUS | @ashwinravi99 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/6j9x4iQlFh

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 25, 2023