Remember Australia's 'duplicate Ashwin'? He now dreams of playing for India
Remember Mahesh Pithiya? The Indian spinner Australia brought into their practice sessions during the 2023 Border Gavaskar Trophy because his bowling action resembled Ravichandran Ashwin's? Three years later, the man once labelled 'duplicate Ashwin' is making a name for himself. Playing for Baroda, Pithiya reached 100 first class wickets in just 25 matches , achieving the milestone during his…
Mahesh Pithiya, the Indian off-spinner who bears a striking resemblance to Ravichandran Ashwin, has been making headlines for his impressive performances since being dubbed the "duplicate Ashwin" by Australia. Now, three years after his initial introduction, Pithiya has reached a significant milestone, surpassing 100 first-class wickets in just 25 matches.
This achievement came during Baroda's victory over Goa in the Ranji Trophy, where he claimed nine wickets, including five in the first innings. Pithiya's journey has been far from easy; growing up in Junagadh, Gujarat, he even worked at a tea stall before dedicating himself to cricket professionally. His unique likeness to Ashwin's bowling action caught the attention of Australia's team in 2023, leading to his inclusion in their practice sessions ahead of the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Since the 2023/24 season, Pithiya has claimed an impressive 95 wickets, more than any other off-spinner during that period, with eight five-wicket hauls to his name. The Indian Express reports that Pithiya's ambition is to don the Indian jersey and face Australia, capitalizing on his proven abilities to make that dream a reality.
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