NEW DELHI: As
Ravichandran Ashwin
prepares to mark his
100th Test
match, the Indian spin maestro shared insights into his cricket journey, expressing that he hasn't fully relished his accomplishments. Ahead of the fifth Test against
England
in Dharamshala, scheduled to commence on March 7, Ashwin reflects on his approach to self-improvement after each tour.
Notably, during the third Test in Rajkot of the ongoing series, Ashwin achieved a significant milestone by becoming the ninth player and the second Indian bowler, following Anil Kumble, to reach 500 Test wickets.
This achievement places him in the esteemed company of bowling legends like Muthiah Muralitharan,
Shane Warne
, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Kumble, Glenn McGrath, Courtney Walsh, and Nathan Lyon.
Furthermore, Ashwin surpassed the 350-wicket mark in Test matches played on home soil, eclipsing Kumble's record to become India's leading wicket-taker.
With an impressive tally of 507 wickets in 99 Test matches, complemented by 156 wickets in 116 ODIs and 72 wickets in 65 T20Is, Ashwin's contribution to Indian cricket has been substantial. Yet, amidst these achievements, he acknowledges the need for constant self-reflection and improvement as he embarks on his centenary Test match.
Ahead of his momentous occasion, Ashwin was in conversation with Kumble on JioCinema titled Spin Maestros. When asked if things don’t go right or if they go right, whom do you fall back on? Ashwin replied: "I go back to one person and it’s very stressful for that person, and that’s me."
"Because I think cricket is one of the greatest self-taught sports. And if you’re ruthless and very critical about yourself, I think it will give you the truth staring at your face. There are enough and more critics in India who will tell you, 10 of them will tell you the wrong things, but they’re definitely critical. But 10 of them will also tell you the right things," he said.
"So, like I always maintain, my biggest pain has been the fact that I don’t enjoy my success as much as I should have. But, that has also helped me become a better cricketer. I have constantly looked for things to improve and I have made sure that I am very uncomfortable with who I am on a particular day. And then I get back to the drawing board and focus on what else I can do to bring more to the table.
"For example, Steven Smith has got a hundred against me, how do I nab him, or Joe Root has made a hundred, how do I nab him. So constantly that thought initiates a new action and eventually it has worked for me over the years, so I am comfortably seated there," Ashwin added.
As he approaches the 100-Test landmark, Ashwin graciously acknowledges the pivotal role played by his family in his cricketing journey. Speaking with humility, Ashwin expresses deep gratitude for the unwavering support and sacrifices made by his father, mother, wife, and children.
Recognising the personal significance of reaching this milestone, Ashwin emphasises that the achievement holds even greater meaning for his family. Their steadfast support and encouragement have been integral to his success on the cricket field.
In this momentous occasion, Ashwin takes a moment to reflect on the collective journey, acknowledging the sacrifices and dedication of those closest to him, making his 100th Test not just a personal achievement but a shared triumph for his family.
"The 100th Test matters a lot to me, but it matters more to my father, mother, wife, and even my kids. My kids are more excited about the Test. Families go through a lot during a player’s journey. My father still answers 40 calls on what his son did during a game," said Ashwin to JioCinema.
When the 37-year-old queried about the challenges faced by spinners in terms of white-ball cricket and how he sees finger-spin bowling going forward, Ashwin said, "One of the greatest success stories of finger spin has to be how I have made a comeback in the T20 side and the ODI side over the last few years. It’s not something I am saying that it has happened to me, so hence it’s a success story. It’s sort of telling you that these are narratives, that things keep going up and down and at the end of the day these are narratives.
"There is nothing called finger-spinners being less efficient and wrist-spinners being more efficient or vice versa. The fact remains that the number of repetitions you give as any spinner or any bowler and the amount of awareness you have over your skill, will definitely supersede what part of the skill you possess. Because, I believe, as time passes by people tend to do less work. "
"Finger spin, wrist spin, fast bowling, slower balls, bouncer, all these things won’t matter. If you are a good bowler, you are a good bowler, doesn’t matter what you do," he concluded.
Amidst his remarkable achievements, Ashwin etched his name in history as the first Indian cricketer to amass 100 wickets and 1000-plus runs against England in Test cricket, becoming the fourth player to achieve this feat after Gary Sobers, Monty Noble and George Giffen.
India lead 3-1 in the five-match series and will face England for the fifth and final Test of the series at Dharamshala starting on Thursday.
(With IANS inputs)
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