Indian spin great Ravichandran Ashwin called time on his glitter international career on Wednesday bringing the curtains down on a sparkling spell with the national side following the conclusion of the third Test between India and Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
Australian batter Aaron Finch heaped praise on the Indian all-rounder following his decision to call it a day and reflected on the time the spinner gave him a pass on Mankading his as the Aussie had left the crease early.
“It’s funny actually because he’d run Jos Butler out Mankading him in the IPL, and then I’d done it once after, but he came to me after the game and told me ‘I don’t run my mates out’,” Finch recollected.
Finch went on to laud the 38-year-old, who was a fierce competitor on the field but was a gentleman off it.
“What a player he has been for India for a long period,” the Aussie batter said.
“He’s someone who is an unbelievable competitor on the field, but then off the field he would love to sit down with you and talk cricket for hours,” he continued.
“I had the pleasure of playing IPL with him and spending quite a bit of time. His records speak for themselves, the amount of runs and wickets he’s got is just unbelievable,” he added.
“I’m very very thankful about that,” Finch laughed.
Mankading is the practice of dismissing a batter at the non-striker’s end in the case that he leaves the crease before the ball leaves the hand of the bowler. It is named after former Indian player Vinoo Mankad, who initiated the dismissal all the way back in the year 1947 and remains a controversial manner to get the batsman out.
The current BGT stands tied at 1-1 as India and Australia played out a draw at The Gabba, following the first game at Perth that ended in the tourists’ favour and the second Test which the Australian managed to claim at Adelaide.
The fourth Test between the heavyweights is slated to begin on Boxing Day at the MCG, which will be followed by the conclusive fifth Test of the tour at the SCG.
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