Spinner Mahesh Pithia, who is in the limelight for bowling like Ravichandran Ashwin and being called his duplicate, was overjoyed when he met his idol and the Indian off-spinner inquired from him how he can take on the Australian batsmen. Is bowling.

Mahesh has played only four first-class matches so far. His action resembles that of Ashwin and hence Australia picked him as their net bowler ahead of the four-Test series against India starting on Thursday. He has been able to grab the attention of people with his bowling.

“I got Steve Smith out five to six times in the nets on the first day itself,” a smiling Mahesh, watching Ashwin bowl in the nets, told PTI. Hearing Ashwin’s name, 21-year-old Mahesh Pithia smiles. He has also generated curiosity among the Indian players.

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Mahesh said, “Today I was blessed by my ideal player. From the beginning, I wanted to bowl like Ashwin. When he came to practice at the nets, I met him and touched his feet. He hugged me and asked how I was bowling to the Australian batsmen.

He said, “Virat Kohli also smiled after seeing me and he wished me luck.” Mahesh has just started his journey in senior cricket for Baroda and that is his focus for now. He wants to play continuously for the team in Ranji Trophy. However, he is not a part of the team as of now.