Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s premier off-spinner, made history on day two of the third Test against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai by batting at number 10 for the first time in his illustrious Test career.
Throughout his career, Ashwin has primarily batted at number 8, where he has amassed 1977 runs in 83 innings at an average of 26.01, with four centuries and seven half-centuries to his name. He has also found considerable success at number 6, where he has accumulated 531 runs at an average of 35.40, including two Test centuries.
Prior to this innings, Ashwin’s lowest batting position was number 9, where he had featured in 20 innings. The only previous instance of Ashwin batting at number 10 in international cricket occurred in a T20I against England in 2011.
Ashwin’s innings at number 10 was brief, as he edged an Ajaz Patel delivery to Daryl Mitchell at slip while attempting a defensive stroke, departing for six runs off 13 balls. However, his appearance at this position marked a significant milestone in his career.
Across his 105 Test matches, Ashwin has compiled 3466 runs at an average of 26.06, including six centuries and fourteen half-centuries. His batting prowess has often been overshadowed by his exceptional bowling skills, but he has consistently contributed with the bat, providing valuable runs for the Indian team.
Ashwin’s batting at number 10 is a testament to his versatility and adaptability. It also highlights the depth of India’s batting lineup, which allows them to experiment with different batting orders depending on the match situation.
