Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has picked three memorable images of the five-Test series between England and India in 2025. When Mohammed Siraj celebrated the wicket of Gus Atkinson on Day 5 at The Oval after being bowled he is one of the three instances that will leave a mark in his memory.
The second image he chose depicted Ben Stokes approaching the Indian batsmen to shake hands and call off the fourth Test at Old Trafford. The final shot showed Siraj crouched on the ground, with Joe Root and Zak Crawley approaching to shake his hand following the Lord’s defeat. On his YouTube channel ‘Ash ki Baat’, Ashwin stated:
“1.When Ben Stokes and Crawley walked up to shake hands at Old Trafford and India refused. 2.When Mohammed Siraj was crouched and Root and Crawley came up to him after the loss at Lord’s. 3. When Siraj did his signature celebration after removing Gus Atkinson at The Oval.”
Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar scored Test centuries after declining Ben Stokes’ request to shake hands at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj bowled 29 deliveries in the fourth innings at Lord’s. He defended the 30th ball he faced, and unbeknownst to him, the ball rolled behind him, knocking the bails down. He was disappointed, as were the billions of people watching in India.
Two tests later, Siraj’s life had come full circle. On Day 5 at The Oval, the pacer bowled Gus Atkinson for 17 runs, helping India win by six runs and even the five-Test series at 2-2.
Ravichandran Ashwin Urges Selectors to Pick Kuldeep Yadav for Upcoming Home Tests
Only a few players had the misfortune of not being selected in the playing XI in all five tests against England and Kuldeep Yadav was one of them. Ashwin Ravichandran looked forward to the 30 year old playing the home series against the West Indies and the South Africa.
However, he was unsure at whose expense he would be included in the team for those games. Ashwin said:
“The way we have played in the current regime, I don’t think they will go in search of an extra bowler. I think they will omit a seamer and bring Kuldeep Yadav in his place in Indian conditions. That’s what will and should happen. There is a possibility that Axar will also play with them.”
Ravichandran Ashwin
“The point to note is that we have packed our team with spinners at home before. Kuldeep Yadav has to play the home Tests because South Africa and West Indies will find it very difficult to pick him. We can consider that he would play, but I am not sure who they would drop from the XI?”
Ravichandran Ashwin
Kuldeep Yadav has represented India in 13 Tests, and has picked 56 dismissals. His last game was vs New Zealand in a test match at Bengaluru in Oct 2024. He was left out of 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy owing to injury.
