IND vs ENG: Ravichandran Ashwin, India's veteran off-spinner, has pulled out of the ongoing India vs England third Test at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. Ashwin has withdrawn from the Test due to a medical emergency in his family. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared an official release confirming the development after the end of Day 2 of the Rajkot Test.
"The BCCI extends its heartfelt support to the champion cricketer and his family. The health and well-being of the players and their loved ones are of utmost importance. The Board requests respect for the privacy of Ashwin and his family as they navigate through this challenging time," an official statement from the Indian cricket board read.
"The Board and the team will continue to provide any necessary assistance to Ashwin and will keep the lines of communication open to offer support as needed. Team India appreciates the understanding and empathy of the fans and media during this sensitive period," it added.
Ravichandran Ashwin Achieves 500-Test Wicket Milestone
Ashwin had a decent outing on the cricket field before the tragic news came to the fore. The 37-year-old first added 77-runs for the eighth wicket in India's first innings along with debutant wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel before getting out for 37 off 89. He then got to the 500 Test-wicket milestone after getting rid of Zak Crawley, becoming the second fastest to reach to that mark in the game's purest format. Ashwin also happens to be the only Indian after Anil Kumble, who ended with 619 Test wickets, to enter the illustrious 500-wicket club.
After the end of the day's play, Ashwin had dedicated his achievement to his father, outlining the role he had played in his life. He was also looking forward to the job at hand with England trailing India's first innings total of 445 by 238 runs and 8 wickets in hand before the information about him having to pull out broke out.
IND vs ENG 3rd Test: India One Bowler/Batter Short For Rest Of The Match
Ashwin's absence will be a massive blow to Team India who will primarily be a bowler short for the rest of the match. In addition, they will also be missing the player's services with the bat lower down the order. With the match hanging in balance and the match happening on Indian conditions, where Ashwin often is in a league of his own, his unavailability could be a massive factor in deciding the result of the match.