Ashwin thanks WI bowlers for getting Indian top-order out quickly

After rain played spoilsport for five consecutive days at the Queen's Park Oval in the fourth and the final Test, India won the Test series against West Indies 2-0 on Monday. This was the first time India had won more than one Test in a series in the Caribbean, and the main man behind the success was Ravichandran Ashwin. The off-spinner evolved into an all-rounder in the series, and scored two centuries and took 17 wickets to secure the sixth man of the series award of his career. Speaking to the media after his brilliant performance in the series, Ashwin said that he had excepted a handsome return from the series.

Personally, I would say that I expected this kind of series."

"Personally, I would say that I expected this kind of series," Ashwin told media on Monday (August 22). "Not necessarily one where I expected two hundreds but I knew batting contributions would be very important. I had no idea that I would be batting at No. 6 before I got here.

"But I put in the hard work without any expectations back home for a month and half, and it really paid off. Expectations are something that help you reach greater heights.

"Going forward, I think being Indian cricketers, expectations are something that you always expect and I hope I can live up to the expectations and keep winning games for the country," the 29-year-old added, reported PTI.

Even though India had a stunning batting line-up on paper with the likes of Kohli and Rahane leading the list, it was Ashwin who stole the limelight with the bat with his two centuries. When asked about him outscoring the premier batsmen, Ashwin said that the Windies deserves a lot of credit for allowing him time.

I need to give West Indies a bit of credit. They get the top order quickly and allow me the time and opportunity.

"I need to give West Indies a bit of credit. They get the top order quickly and allow me the time and opportunity. Most of the other teams give hundreds to the top order. It's a psychological thing, I reckon," he said, with a smile.

"In this Test, I was trying to get a good bowl in this match because personally, I enjoy my five-wicket hauls more than my hundreds. I am not just saying for the sake of it. I really do mean it. The one hundred I would really relish and put it past a five-wicket haul is the one I got in Kolkata, and probably the one in St. Lucia. It is about the context of the game rather about getting runs or taking wickets," Ashwin pointed.

However, the one milestone Ashwin missed out on was getting to 200 wickets, and that too in joint quick-time.

"To be honest I wasn't close to it, just on the cusp of it. So I cannot really say how I would have felt about it. But now that's gone and is under the carpet.

"Even if I didn't achieve it, I tried and went in the pursuit of excellence. So maybe not 200, let me go for the quickest 300," Ashwin quipped.

Also, read: Ravichandran Ashwin | The genuine all-rounder who India kept under the wraps