India’s triumphant Ravi Ashwin mocks Michael Vaughan and Australia captains over whitewash predictions

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Ravi Ashwin mocked India’s doubters including the former England captain Michael Vaughan after the tourists clinched a brilliant last-gasp victory on Australian soil.

Batsman Rishabh Pant hit an unbeaten 89 as India pulled off the greatest fourth-innings run chase ever seen at the Gabba, a ground which very few touring teams leave with happy memories.

The comeback ensured India came out 2-1 winners having lost the opening Test in dismal style, when they collapsed to 36 all out in Adelaide to lose the first Test by eight wickets.

To compound matters their captain and best batsman Virat Kohli returned home for the birth of his first child, ruling himself out of the rest of the series, and pundits around the world were quick to predict a 4-0 whitewash brewing.

On Tuesday, Ashwin, one of a number of Indians injured and unable to play at the Gabba, tweeted a photo of the team celebrating their victory alongside pictures of famous former players’ wayward predictions.

Former Australian captains Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting and Mark Waugh were all quoted predicting the worst for India, but Vaughan’s words were most emphatic of all, saying: “Told ya … India are going to get hammered in the Test Series … #AUSvIND #4-0.”

Alongside the images, Ashwin tweeted: “Yours happily, India tour of OZ 2020/21. Humbled by all the love and support we have received over the last 4 weeks!”

India’s win came after a fiercely contested series in which the now infamous sledging by captain Tim Paine towards batsman Ashwin drew plenty of attention.

Paine told Ashwin he couldn’t wait to get him to the Gabba, but it was there that India closed out victory, and AShwin wasted no time in tagging Paine in one of his celebratory tweets.

Good evening from Gabba!! I am sorry I couldn’t play here but thanks for hosting us and playing some hard cricket during these tough times. We will remember this series forever! @tdpaine36 @CricketAus."