Ravi Ashwin’s wife’s startling revelation makes India’s draw even more heroic

Ravichandran Ashwin’s wife has added another layer to India’s extraordinary draw in Sydney that makes the result even more heroic.

There wasn’t enough padding for the Indians copping the short stuff.

This Indian team is utterly exhausted, physically and mentally.

Thousands of miles away from the comforts of home soil, they have been relentlessly battered and bruised for three Test matches, with Australia’s reliance on the short ball taking its toll.

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The squad’s casualty ward is overflowing, and some players have been separated from friends and family for up to six months.

But despite everything, this depleted Indian side overcame all that adversity to pull off a remarkable feat at the SCG on Monday.

Australia needed eight wickets on the final day to take a 2-1 series lead, and they were given 97 overs to knock over their rivals – plenty of time on a day five pitch.

But the hosts could only muster three scalps, with India securing a famous draw to set up a mouth-watering decider in Brisbane.

It has been 56 years since a team has faced as many balls in the fourth innings of a Test at the SCG.

It was a performance that exemplified what separates Test cricket from the one-day formats – resilience, patience and fierce determination.

And although Cheteshwar Pujara (70 off 205) and Rishabh Pant (97 off 118) were superb in the morning session, the real heroes emerged as the sun headed west.

India's Ravichandran Ashwin embraces his teammate Hanuma Vihari.

Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin refused to give an inch, weathering a barrage of bouncers and yorkers from Australia’s talented attack.

They blocked, prodded, ducked and left for more than three hours, rarely rotating the strike due to Vihari’s hamstring injury.

The 27-year-old was in immense discomfort and could hardly run between the wickets, but powered through regardless.

Quick threes became leisurely singles, and they didn’t even bother with the easy singles.

It was somewhat bizarre to witness the batsmen pierce the infield, only to remain unmoved while the fielders made chase.

But the contest wasn’t dull by any means. It was arguably the most enthralling passage of play on Australia soil for years.

The wounded Vihari survived 161 deliveries, only scoring 23 runs, 16 of which came from boundaries.

India's Hanuma Vihari avoids a bounder.

Alongside him was Ashwin, who less than 24 hours earlier spoke candidly to reporters about the decade of abuse he had endured in Sydney.

This was quite comfortably Ashwin’s longest knock in the fourth innings of a Test match. He survived 128 deliveries at the crease on Monday, whereas his previous best was 53.

What wasn’t as apparent until after the game was the pain Ashwin was going through.

His wife Prithi took to Twitter after stumps to declare: “The man went to bed last night with a terrible back tweak and in unbelievable pain. He could not stand up straight when he woke up this morning. Could not bend down to tie his shoe laces. I am amazed at what @ashwinravi99 pulled off today.”

How Ashwin pulled off such a magnificent innings while in that much pain is anyone’s guess.

Prithi revealed the heroism of Ravi Ashwin's innings.

In the end, it was the second-most number of balls by an Indian pair in the fourth innings of an overseas Test for the sixth wicket or lower.

“Through this whole series, we’ve seen India show courage, determination and what character they’re made of this team,” Australian great Shane Warne said on Fox Cricket.

“The bounce back from being bowled out for 36, 1-0 down and then to come back and win in Melbourne, the attitude towards chasing this target, it’s just outstanding stuff from India.”

Former Australian batsman Mark Waugh called it “India’s greatest Test draw” considering the team’s injury list.

LEAST RUNS SCORED IN TEST INNINGS OF 160+ BALLS

22 (161) – Saleem Altaf (PAK) vs England, 1971

23* (161) – Hanuma Vihari (IND) vs Australia, 2021

25 (244) – Hashim Amla (RSA) vs India, 2015

INDIA’S LONGEST FOURTH INNINGS IN DRAWN TEST

150.5 overs vs England, 1979

136 overs vs West Indies, 1948

132 overs vs West Indies, 1958

131 overs vs Pakistan, 1979

131 overs vs Australia, 2021

What a terrific show of resilience from Team India. Even a victory wouldn't have been sweeter like this.

Pujara, Vihari, Ashwin and Rishabh Pant - What a display of batting on a tough fifth day wicket facing the best bowlers. This is real test cricket.#SydneyTest #AUSvINDtest pic.twitter.com/aJXbNo67Kw

— Parvati (@paro_nair) January 11, 2021

Terrific result for Team India. Against all odds this team exhibited tremendous temperament to draw the SCG Test. Vihari braved his injury & got the job done. Pant played a special innings. Ashwin was too good. Opening p’ship did well. Pujara scored runs #AUSvsIND

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) January 11, 2021

Great effort India to draw the Test, tremendous courage and grit shown by the guys especially Pujara, Pant, Vihari and Ash

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) January 11, 2021

Loved the fight and determination of India all day today. Starting with Pant and Pujara, and then for Vihari and Ashwin to withstand Australia and look largely in control for most of the day was very impressive. Can't wait for Brisbane now. #AUSvIND

— Ricky Ponting AO (@RickyPonting) January 11, 2021

Love the resilience and character shown by this Indian team ! Class apart !#AUSvsIND #AUSvIND #Ashwin #Vihari #BorderGavaskarTrophy waiting for Brisbane now for final countdown ! pic.twitter.com/usMVY1yA7B

— Sushil Gaikwad (@onlysushil) January 11, 2021

Special mention to Vihari who literally batted for 4 hours on one leg and to Ashwin who seems to have got right up for this after the abuse of the last few days. #AusvInd

— Rahul Puri (@rahulpuri) January 11, 2021

The Indian squad has been depleted by a seemingly endless number of injuries this summer – they almost fielded a second XI at the SCG this week.

Star pace bowlers Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were withdrawn from the Test series before it had even begun.

KL Rahul injured his wrist after the Boxing Day Test, while captain Virat Kohli flew home for the birth of his first child after the day-night contest in Adelaide.

Opening batsman Rohit Sharma only recovered from a hamstring injury in time for the SCG Test, while strike bowlers Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav were struck down during the Adelaide and Melbourne Tests respectively.

As a result, India was forced to trail uncapped youngster Mohammad Siraj and Navdeep Saini, who have both been impressive in their debut series.

Siraj’s tour has been particularly challenging considering his father passed while he was stuck in the biosecurity bubble. Due to the strict travel restrictions, he wasn’t able to return home for the funeral.

India's Ravichandran Ashwin reacts after being hit by a ball.

Instead, he became India’s 298th Test cricketer, and was filmed with tears streaming down his cheeks during his country’s national anthem before the SCG Test.

Like many of his teammates, Siraj made a huge sacrifice to ensure this Test series could go ahead – and the Sydney spectators thanked him by hurling abuse from the stands, allegedly.

To rub salt into the wounds, Ravindra Jadeja will almost certainly not feature in the Gabba Test after dislocating his finger, while wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was unable to fulfil his duties as the team’s gloveman after copping a blow from Pat Cummins in the first innings.

This team has been in the wars from the moment they touched down in Sydney last year. They are emotionally and physically drained, and only have four days to recover before the Gabba Test.

Worryingly, Indian selectors will be looking around the change room wondering whether they can even field 11 cricketers in Brisbane.

Regardless, the series now stands at 1-1 after three Tests, an unimaginable outcome after India were rolled for 36 last month.

But history is not on their side, not by any means. India has never won a Test match at the Gabba, and Australia has not lost at the iconic venue since the 1980s.

However, records were made to be broken.