“Where are daddy hundreds?” - Ravi Ashwin slams critics for criticizing Indian bowlers after Leeds Test defeat

Former Indian spinner and analyst Ravi Ashwin has slammed critics who harshly criticized the Indian bowlers for not stepping up during the fourth innings of the Leeds Test against England. Ashwin added that daddy hundreds were missing from the Indian batters on a batting wicket.

Notably, India emerged as the first team to lose a Test match despite five centuries being scored across both innings of the Leeds Test. Skipper Shubman Gill was the top scorer, amassing 147 runs in the first innings as India scored 471 and 364 runs in both innings.

Ashwin asserted that commentators went pretty hard on the Indian bowlers as soon as England batters chased down the 371-run target in the fourth innings. However, he stated that Indian batters should’ve taken more responsibility on a batting wicket.

“Once 370 was chased down (in the first Test), I thought the commentary became a diss about the Indian bowlers. I felt that the narrative built was pointing towards how Indian bowlers failed to win the match. But with a little homework, many would have realised that in England, scores have been consistently chased down in 4th innings,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

“Batters should take up responsibility. I know batsmen are making runs. Yes, we had five centurions, but where are the daddy hundreds? We have to resign to the fact that there would be no contribution (with the bat) from the lower order. Our fast bowlers cannot bat, they cannot muster runs,” he added.

Moreover, Ashwin also discussed how Indian bowlers, barring Jasprit Bumrah, need to focus on improving their economy rather than prioritizing wicket-taking balls at the expense of runs. India will take on England in the second Test, starting on Wednesday, July 2, at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

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