Fan Moment! Ashwin’s duplicate touches his feet

TIL Desk Sports/ Mahesh Pithiya doesn’t mind the attention he is getting and his quiet and unassuming presence is certainly endearing. One could easily miss him among the plethora of net bowlers who sweat it out at any touring team’s nets before the uncanny resemblance with Ravichandran Ashwin’s action surprises you.

He is only four first-class matches old but the Australian team has made him a travelling net bowler and he is lapping up every bit of attention he is getting. “Maine pahle din hi Steve Smith ko 5 se 6 baar out kiya thaa nets mein (I had got Smith out at least six times in the nets on first day),” a smiling Mahesh told as he stood in one corner watching his idol Ashwin go about his job in the nets.”

Talk about Ashwin, the 21-year-old started beaming. Mahesh has generated curiosity among India players as well. “Today I got blessings from my idol. I have always wanted to bowl like him. When I am met him as he was entering the nets, I touched his feet and sought his blessings. He hugged me and then asked what exactly am I bowling to the Australians,” he said.