In the initial indications of the India-England Test series heating up, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin delivered a spirited send-off to Jonny Bairstow following Jasprit Bumrah’s LBW dismissal on Monday.
This significant wicket came merely four balls after India removed the in-form Zak Crawley, who had been batting smoothly and was set at 73.
Bairstow failed to connect with a powerful in-swinger from Bumrah, having seemed at ease with the length balls outside the off-stump.
The umpire signaled him out, and as he walked off to confer with his partner, Ashwin shouted something in his direction. Bairstow responded with words of his own.
Bairstow and Ashwin exchange pleasantries just prior to lunch. pic.twitter.com/gTp2rDRZXM
— The Pinch Hitter (@LePinchHitter) February 5, 2024
Lafda loading btwn Ashwin and Bairstow 🤣#INDvENG #INDvsENGTest #Ashwin #JonnyBairstow pic.twitter.com/QUpR2VucEK
— Ankur Singh (@ImAnkur45) February 5, 2024
Bairstow opted for a review, but it couldn’t alter his destiny as ball-tracking revealed Umpire’s Call, with two reds for impact and pitching. He became the sixth English wicket to fall, the score at 196 while chasing 399.