WATCH: When R Ashwin stunned one of the world’s best batter with insane delivery in T20 World Cup 2014

Indian cricket star Ravichandran Ashwin turned 38 years old on Tuesday, September 17. Ever since his international debut, the off-spin bowler has gone onto create and achieve massive success. With 516 wickets from 100 Test matches, R. Ashwin is one of the most successful bowlers of this era. 

With such a high stakes battle, it needed something magical from India to get over the line. Indian spinner R. Ashwin provided that with a ball that was similar to Shane Warne's 'Ball of the Century'. The delivery stunned not just the South Africans but also cricket fans around the world. 

In 2014, MS Dhoni and his Indian side were playing the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. Up against the Men in Blue were the South African team that had some huge names in their side. Quinton De Kock, AB De Villiers, JP Duminy, Dale Steyn were just few of the big names.

One other player who was a constant threat to the Indian bowlers was Hashim Amla. The right-handed batter at that point was one of the best players in the world and was in rich vein of form. It was necessary for India to dismiss Amla early if they had to make it to the finals. 

R Ashwin stuns Hashim Amla with best ball in T20 Cricket 

MS Dhoni brought R Ashwin onto bowl in the final over of the powerplay. The first ball bowled by the Chennai lad was down the leg side for a wide. Ashwin was bowling round the wicket when he let is carrom ball rip through. Hashim Amla saw the ball pitch outside the leg stump. 

What happened next was simply magical as the ball turned a long way and hit the top of the off-stump. For many fans this was almost identical to the ball bowled by Shane Warne to dismiss Mike Gatting during the Manchester Test in 1993. 

Watch the video below:

Virat Kohli has Played the T20 inning and shot of the Century and This Magic ball from Ravi Ashwin has to be the ball of the Century.



Being a off-spinner and tricking Hashim Amla with his master class is simply exceptional.



Any delivery close to this?pic.twitter.com/SgOJ6YscCd

— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) February 21, 2024

Hashim Amla had a look of utter disbelief on his face as he walked back to the hut for 22. Indian players ran up to Ashwin who had the world’s best batter tied in knots to give India its 1st wicket. By the end of his 4-over spell R. Ashwin had picked 3/22 with the wickets of Faf Du Plessis for 58 and AB De Villiers for 10.  

It was a crucial spell for India as they restricted South Africa to 172/4 from their 20 overs. For India it was Virat Kohli who was the best batter as he scored an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes. Ajinkya Rahane (32), Rohit Sharma (24), Suresh Raina (21), and Yuvraj Singh with 18 were the contributors. However, the Indian side lost the final against Sri Lanka.