On Day 3 in Dharamsala, England offered scant resistance as the Indian spin machine dismantled them for 195 in the second innings, securing an emphatic innings victory and sealing the series 4-1. Ravichandran Ashwin, marking his 100th Test, emerged as the chief tormentor with his 36th five-wicket haul.
Despite this, his usual accomplice Ravindra Jadeja had a quieter day, bowling only nine overs but still managing to claim a wicket. The dismissal itself was textbook for a left-arm spinner, but it was Shoaib Bashir’s subsequent actions that added a comical twist to the proceedings, much to the delight of his teammates in the dressing room.
Bashir, stubbornly resisting the Indian attack alongside Joe Root, faced 28 deliveries before falling victim to Jadeja’s delivery that sharply turned away to clip the off-stump. Initially, Bashir stood his ground, defiantly signaling for a review despite the celebrations from the Indian camp.
However, Root, with a grin on his face, quickly clarified that Bashir hadn’t been caught behind but had actually been bowled. Bashir’s embarrassment was evident as his cheeks flushed crimson, prompting laughter from Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and the rest of the Indian team.
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As Ben Stokes and Paul Collingwood, observing from the balcony, grasped the situation, their expressions shifted from wry smiles to genuine amusement, joining in the laughter echoing from the Indian camp.
