WTC Final | Enjoying my cricket and not looking too far ahead, expresses Ravichandran Ashwin

When India clashed against New Zealand in early 2020, the talks surrounding Ravichandran Ashwin was in regards to his form in SENA countries. While Ashwin just got the one Test in New Zealand, he made up for the lost opportunity in Australia, where he left an indelible mark on the Indian bowling unit, prompting the management to play two spinners. 

Having started his cricketing career as an opener, the 34-year-old was handed a reality check, when he was dropped for Rohit Sharma before the 2006 U-19 World Cup. Ever since then, Ashwin has transformed himself as a spin-all-rounder, where he has made a mark for himself in international cricket. 

While the off-spinner was constantly making a mark in the domestic cricket, with Tamil Nadu, his performances came to the limelight only after he made his debut in the Indian Premier League, with Chennai Super Kings. Ashwin pointed out that most of his growth in cricket came through the first-class scene. 

“My only explanation was that people saw me through the IPL and thought I am a shorter-version bowler, but most of my growth came through first-class cricket. That’s how I got noticed. Even today, they can find faults technically with my bowling, but I don’t think my bowling ability has been built on a technical platform alone. The ability I possess as a bowler or cricketer is superior to the technical skills one might possess.”

“Wicket-taking and match-winning abilities are beyond a skill somebody possesses. My career has been built on that. Cricketing acumen and wicket-taking ability are a skill in itself. I have kept on adding them, tactically and technically, too. It has been a journey of learning.”

Ashwin also hailed the health of cricket in the country, calling the nation a cricketing ‘superpower’ before crediting a part of its success to the Indian Premier League, a tournament that has given a platform to several budding cricketers.