New Zealand vs India: Tim Southee stuns Ravi Ashwin with a ripper of a delivery in Wellington

New Zealand and India are currently fighting it out in the first Test of the two-match series at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. The visitors have found themselves in some early trouble in the game as they have been bowled out for a mediocre 165 in the first innings. It was Tim Southee who did the damage picking three wickets on the second morning and amongst them, the delivery he bowled to Ravi Ashwin was the best.

After losing Rishabh Pant to a needless run-out, India needed Ashwin, playing ahead of Ravindra Jadeja, to stay in the middle with Ajinkya Rahane. But he got an extremely good nut first up even before he could’ve got hold of the conditions and behaviour of the surface.

Tim Southee had his tails up after an early wicket and sensed an opening after Ashwin came out to bat. He charged in and delivered an absolute corker of a delivery. He pitched the ball full angling into the batsman from middle and off which swung away late to beat the outside the edge and hit the timber.

Ashwin was left stunned with what happened in a fraction of a second and to be fair on him, it was literally Southee’s swinging skills that dismissed him.

Here’s the video:

Ashwin 2020 starts with this. Like he does not know cricket 🏏 #ashwin #INDvsNZTestCricket pic.twitter.com/yLCB4EmOsM

— A-r-u-n (@Bondirocks) February 21, 2020

Ravi Ashwin needs to step up with the ball

Having bagged a golden duck with the bat, the pressure is now on Ravi Ashwin to step up and provide the breakthroughs with his off-spin. His batting form has declined over the last year or so even as Ravindra Jadeja’s rise as an all-rounder has coincided with it. The southpaw rather has been preferred at time in away Tests ahead of Ashwin as well and many had reckoned for Jadeja to play in the opening Test as well.

But Virat Kohli banked on his six batsmen and the wicket-keeper to do the job and eventually went with his best spinner. Also, with India being bowled out for a low total now, Ravi Ashwin will have to do a containing job at least as there is not much assistance in the surface for the spinners.