R Ashwin hopes to bring something new to team during Champions Trophy

05/24/2017

R Ashwin has said that he will try to attempt “something new” during the upcoming Champions Trophy in the UK. Having missed the hectic IPL season due to a sports hernia injury he suffered in the Test series against England, the offie is raring to get started for the National team again.

After an incredible home season where he claimed an astonishing 79 wickets in 13 matches, the TN spinner was ruled out of the cash rich IPL to nurse a shoulder injury he had been carrying for a while. But now that the 30-year-old is back he is ready to launch a serious challenge to retain the Champions Trophy.

"I might be able to throw something new in this tournament (Champions Trophy), hopefully. I am equipped enough to do so. The two warm-up games (vs New Zealand, vs Bangladesh) will give me an indication on how well I go in the tournament," Ashwin told PTI.

"It depends on how well my variations will come to fore, so just hoping that these practice matches can be put to good use and I bring something in new to the table and give something new to the team."

Ashwin has always been a player who has reinvented himself time and again to remain one of the most threatening bowlers in the Indian side. The offie has a great record in England as well where he has an average of 24.09 which is substantially less than his career figures. The new challenge that the bowlers now face, in a game that is beginning to side more and more with the batsmen, is the changed rule of having just four fielders outside the 30-yard circle. However, Ashwin just sees the change as something new the bowlers will have to adapt to.

"There have been rule changes to what ICC has done to one day format, and there is no point in going with same set of skills time and again, unless the game change your skill or let the game take the demand out of you,” he added.

"It's been going through my head and I have been working on lot of stuff based on how the game is changing.

"I feel you have to be prepaid for any challenge thrown at you and I generally expect placid wickets and that's the way I prepare for limited overs format. As far pressure is concerned, it is about handling one game at a time, as you build up to every game, you start becoming a favorite."

As India attempt to become the first team in history to defend its Champions Trophy crown all eyes will be on Ashwin who has had almost a couple of months off in order to prepare for the tournament.

"Honestly feels surreal right now as I had a month and half break. These wickets (in the past season) have come and they are result of how much have strived for excellence, all I am trying to do is use this experience," Ashwin remarked.

When asked about his opinion on the IPL and how exhausting it is for Indian players, he replied, "IPL has only done good for Indian cricket. A lot of players from other countries have echoed the same feeling about how much talent India is throwing up from IPL and it will continue to happen."

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