"Standing At Slip Was Never Dull": Rahane's Farewell Note For Ashwin

India batter Ajinkya Rahane on Wednesday penned an emotional farewell note for Ravichandran Ashwin, who announced his retirement from international cricket. Ashwin surprised many when he joined India captain Rohit Sharma to officially announce his decision. Fans had sensed something was amiss when cameras captured a heartfelt moment between Ashwin and Virat Kohli on the final day of the Test. Ashwin was visibly emotional, and Kohli embraced him warmly, hinting at the significant announcement to follow.

Since news of Ashwin's retirement broke, wishes have poured in, celebrating his remarkable career.

Taking to his official X handle, Rahane reminisced about standing at slip while Ashwin bowled, calling it an unforgettable experience. He also wished Ashwin the best for his future endeavours.

"Congratulations on an incredible journey, @ashwinravi99! Standing at slip was never a dull moment with you bowling, every ball felt like a chance waiting to happen. All the best for your next chapter," Rahane posted on X.

Ashwin made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies, marking the beginning of an illustrious career in red-ball cricket. He featured in 106 Tests, taking an astounding 537 wickets, including 37 five-wicket hauls, and scored 3,503 runs.

Ashwin played 23 Tests against Australia, claiming 115 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 2.71. The 38-year-old also holds the record for the most wickets taken in a single Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, with 29 scalps during the 2020-21 edition.

In the longest format of the game, Ashwin set numerous records that may prove difficult to surpass. He is the fastest Indian bowler to claim 350 Test wickets and ranks as India's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests, with 537 dismissals at an economy rate of 2.83.

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Watch: Akash Deep Apologises Following Bizarre Exchange With Travis Head

Akash Deep apologised to Travis Head following a bizarre exchange on Day 5 of the third Test match between India and Australia in Brisbane on Wednesday. Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah looked quite confident at the start of the day's play and the former looked to play some aggressive shots against Nathan Lyon. While going for a slog sweep, Akash Deep missed the ball completely and it got stuck inside his pads. He quickly took it away and threw it on the ground. The Indian cricketer did not notice that Travis Head thought he will hand him the ball and that led to a chat with the Australian batter.

However, the situation did not turn ugly as Akash Deep apologised and the game moved on.

Travis Head ultimately ended up dismissing Akash Deep and ending the Indian innings.

Play on day five of the third Test between India and Australia was halted due to lightening around the Gabba after the visitors were bowled out for 260.

Don't think Travis Head loved that#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/XzR6kIJZu5

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 18, 2024

Australia made 445 in their first innings.

The match has been impacted by multiple delays over the course of five days.

Resuming the day at 252 for nine, India added eight runs in 24 balls.

Jasprit Bumrah (10 not out off 38) and Akash Deep (31 off 44), who helped India avoid the follow-on on day four, shared 47 runs off 78 balls for the final wicket.

Australia gained an 185-run first innings lead after Akash Deep was stumped off Travis Head in the 79th over.

(With PTI inputs)

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Saim Ayub, Salman Agha Steer Pakistan To Victory In First ODI vs South Africa

Saim Ayub hit a superb 109 and Salman Agha starred with bat and ball as Pakistan beat South Africa by three wickets in the first one-day international at Boland Park on Tuesday. The left-handed Ayub and Salman (82 not out) shared a fifth wicket partnership of 141, rescuing Pakistan from 60 for four. Salman, who earlier had career-best bowling figures of four for 32 as South Africa were restricted to 239 for nine, was named man of the match – but he handed the trophy to Ayub. "Without Ayub we would not have won the game," said Salman. "He was there with the new ball and he set up the game."

There were still moments of anxiety for the tourists after Kagiso Rabada had Ayub caught at fine leg with 38 runs still needed.

Two more wickets fell before Salman hit the winning boundary with three balls to spare.

Heinrich Klaasen made 86 off 97 balls in South Africa's total of 239 for nine but was forced to play more conservatively than usual after the innings stalled against Salman's off-spin.

South Africa made a rapid start with Tony de Zorzi (33) and Ryan Rickelton (36) putting on 70 for the first wicket inside the 10-over power play.

But Salman, who had taken only 10 wickets at a cost of 50 runs each in 27 previous one-day internationals, took the first four wickets in the space of 12 balls as South Africa slumped to 88 for four.

Spin bowling dominated, with slow bowlers sending down a combined 27 overs and taking seven wickets for 107 runs. 

Ayub, 22, followed up an unbeaten 98 in a losing cause in a Twenty20 international in Centurion last Friday with an innings of skill and maturity, 

Ayub and Salman stabilised the innings before steadily increasing their scoring rate.

The match swung dramatically in Pakistan's favour when Ottneil Baartman returned to the bowling attack in the 35th over. Baartman had taken two for nine in five overs in his first spell but Ayub hooked his first two balls for six in an over which yielded 22 runs.

South Africa suffered a blow during the warm-up when Keshav Maharaj, their premier spin bowler, suffered a groin strain and had to withdraw. 

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3rd Test LIVE: Will Rain Play Spoilsport On Ind vs Aus Day 5? Report Says...

India vs Australia LIVE Score, 3rd Test, Day 5: India aim to bounce back after avoiding follow-on as they take the field on Day 5 of the third Test match at The Gabba, Brisbane. Following gritty knocks by KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep stitched together a solid 10th wicket partnership to avoid follow-on. With rain stoppages affecting the game, the match is likely to end in a draw but India will be looking to force a result in order to boost their World Test Championship (WTC) Final hopes. (Live Scorecard)

Here are the LIVE Score Updates of India vs Australia 3rd Test Match Day 5, straight from The Gabba, Brisbane -

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3rd Test, Day 4 Live: KL Rahul Dropped On Ball 1, Steve Smith The Culprit

India vs Australia LIVE Score: India face a crunch day in Brisbane against Australia on the fourth day of the third Test. Already four wickets down, the onus will be on Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul to provide solidity to the batting as India look to avoid follow-on against Australia, who had scored 445 in the first innings. At Stumps on Day 3, the visitors are struggling at 51/4 with right-hand batter KL Rahul (33*) and team skipper Rohit Sharma (0*) unbeaten at the crease. The Bureau of Meteorology of Australia has reported today that there are 90% chances of rain on the last two days of the Brisbane Test played between the Baggy Greens and India which is Tuesday and Wednesday. (Live Scorecard)

Here are the LIVE Score Updates of India vs Australia 3rd Test Match Day 4, Straight from The Gabba, Brisbane

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New Zealand vs England Live Score Updates 3rd Test Day 4

NZ vs ENG Live Score Updates 3rd Test Day 4: England have a mountain to climb with two days of play left in their third and final Test against New Zealand at the Seddon Park in Hamilton. The visitors, who are chaing a mammoth 658 to win the match, were 18/2 at the close of play on Day 3 with Jacob Bethell batting on nine while Joe Root was yet to open his account. Having already lost the series, the Kiwis need eight more wickets to secure a consolation victory after England easily won the first two Tests. (Live Scorecard)

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"If I Get Opportunity...": Star On Potential RCB Captaincy. It's Not Kohli

Rajat Patidar's international career did not take off as he would have liked, but the Madhya Pradesh batter is confident of "re-creating" the opportunity through domestic matches and don the India jersey again. Patidar's six innings against England earlier this year produced just 63 runs, but the right-hander has shown impressive touch in the first half of the Ranji Trophy and the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. "I enjoyed going to the Test team. But sometimes I feel bad that I missed the opportunity. But it's alright sometimes things don't go your way," Patidar said during an interaction here on Saturday.

Patidar has accepted his "failure" and has moved away from that disappointing space.

"I think acceptance is the key. You have to accept that there will be failure in the cricketing journey. So, it's important for me to face it and learn from it.

"I have just accepted it and I am moving forward. It's a part and parcel of the game. I can re-create the opportunity," he added.

In that context, the 31-year-old has taken a bold first step, scoring a good amount of runs in domestic tournaments.

From five Ranji Trophy matches, the Madhya Pradesh captain has made 427 runs at an average of 53.37 with a hundred and a fifty.

Patidar is also the third highest run-getter in the ongoing SMAT behind Ajinkya Rahane (432) and Bihar's Sakibul Gani (353) with 347 runs from nine matches at a strike-rate of 182.63 with four fifties.

The powerful right-hander said trusting his skills was the reason behind his good run.

"I am just trying to back my strength in the areas where I am going to hit, like I was doing in the last couple of years. I am just trying to find out the same pattern that I was playing in the IPL.

"My mantra is to play one ball at a time. I try to put my impact on the opposition for my team. I don't try to get big scores. I have never paid attention to that," he said.

Patidar also received a confidence-booster when Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained him ahead of the IPL auction.

"Yes, definitely. RCB is a big franchise and I love playing for RCB. So it (retention) gave me a lot of confidence that they retained me." Patidar's name is doing rounds within RCB circles as their prospective captain for IPL 2025 after the franchise released Faf du Plessis.

He was open to that challenge.

"Of course, if I get an opportunity to lead RCB, that is what I am there for, and I will be happy. But it all depends on the franchise," he said.

However, Patidar has an immediate goal to accomplish, guiding Madhya Pradesh to their maiden SMAT title against Mumbai on Sunday at a venue where they won the Ranji Trophy two seasons ago.

Incidentally, they had beaten Mumbai that time and Patidar had made 122 in MP's six-wicket victory.

The captaincy sits light on his shoulders.

"I have learnt a lot out of it. I have enjoyed learning the tactics. I love seeing players and anticipating what they can do.

"I have learnt a lot about captaincy from my coach (Chandrakant Pandit). Everybody knows that he is the best coach in India," he said.

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