Ravichandran Ashwin's memorable leave during the 2022 T20 World Cup match against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground remains unforgettable. The off-spinner, who has recently announced his retirement from international cricket, reflected on his choice to let the ball pass and the joy it brought to former Team India head coach Rahul Dravid after India achieved a remarkable victory over Pakistan.

With India requiring two runs from the final delivery, Mohammad Nawaz bowled a ball directed down the leg side to Ashwin. Rather than attempting to hit the delivery, the 38-year-old Ashwin exhibited remarkable awareness by allowing the ball to pass through to the wicketkeeper, resulting in a wide.

On the subsequent delivery, he secured the win for India in a nail-biting finish, during which Virat Kohli delivered an unforgettable performance.

“I hadn’t realized the significance of my action at that moment. Upon returning to the dressing room, I had never witnessed Rahul Dravid express such joy — the only other time I saw him that animated was after our recent T20 World Cup victory. Until that point, I had not seen him react in such a manner. He approached me and said, ‘That’s why we had you in the squad! That’s how you handle such situations,’” Ashwin shared on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast while conversing with Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton.

“I honestly did not grasp the importance of that moment. I simply observed the ball and let it go. Then it struck Rizwan and came back. I believe Virat was nearly celebrating; he gestured as if to say, ‘Who leaves a ball like that?’” he added.

Ashwin credits 'gully cricket'

In discussing the match against Pakistan, Ashwin attributed his ability to make a quick decision in the final over to his experiences in gully cricket.

"This has always been my challenge. It represents the ongoing struggle between myself and the broader cricketing community that I have faced over the years. It seems that the cricketing world does not fully recognize the presence of a gully cricketer who has mingled with them while remaining true to his roots throughout his life," Ashwin remarked.

"It is quite difficult to accept, as I believe gully cricket is not as prevalent in Western countries such as England, Australia, and New Zealand," he continued.

During the match against Pakistan, Ashwin stepped up to bat after Dinesh Karthik was dismissed in the final over.

Virat Kohli (82* off 53 balls), who had played a significant role in the innings, was at the non-striker's end for the last delivery, leaving Ashwin with the responsibility of scoring 2 runs from 1 ball. However, with Nawaz delivering a wide, the challenge for the all-rounder became somewhat easier.

"For me, gully cricket has been an integral part of my life. Even well into my career, I was still engaging in gully cricket with my friends. It provided a joy that I have not found elsewhere. Leaving a ball on the leg side is crucial for us to earn a free hit, as most of our games revolve around offside runs," Ashwin explained.

"It closely resembles bowling underarm into your legs since scoring runs on the leg side is not an option. Therefore, when a ball is bowled down the leg side, it feels instinctive for me to simply flick my hips and let it go. Many would assume I have spent countless hours perfecting this skill, but that is not the case," Ashwin concluded.

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