R Ashwin withdraws from third Test against England due to family emergency

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin withdrew from the ongoing third Test against England in Rajkot due to family emergency. The news was confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Ashwin, on Friday too his 500 wickets in Test cricket after he dropped the wicket of England opener Zak Crawley. The all-rounder immediately left Rajkot for his hometown Chennai to attend to a medical emergency in his family.

“In these challenging times, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the team fully support Ashwin,” the BCCI said in a statement.

“The BCCI extends its heartfelt support to the champion cricketer and his family. The health and well-being of the players and their loved ones are of utmost importance. The Board requests respect for the privacy of Ashwin and his family as they navigate through this challenging time,” the BCCI statement said.

R Ashwin‘s departure from Rajkot to attend to a medical emergency came a few hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Ashwin for becoming the second Indian bowler after Anil Kumble to claim 500 wickets in Test cricket.

PM Modi tweeted, “Congratulations to Ravichandran Ashwin on the extraordinary milestone of taking 500 Test wickets! His journey and accomplishments are a testament to his skill and perseverance. My best wishes to him as he scales further peaks. @ashwinravi99.”

Ashwin etched his name into cricket history as he joined the elite club of players with 500 Test wickets, becoming only the second Indian to achieve this remarkable feat. The off-spinner dismissed Zak Crawley for wicket number 500 during the third Test against England in Rajkot.

(With IANS Inputs)