The Indian left-arm spinner, Axar Patel grabbed a lot of limelight in the pink-ball Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium, but senior partner Ravichandran Ashwin constantly guided him as the duo made it difficult for the English batsmen to survive. While Axar had 11 wickets to show for his efforts, Ashwin also scalped 7 to enter the 400-wicket club. Ashwin is the fourth Indian bowler in the illustrious which comprises greats like Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble, and Harbhajan Singh.
Speaking after the game, Ravichandran Ashwin revealed that he is working on his fitness despite his aging body. After the third Test, Ashwin was heard saying, “I think my bowling is coming beautifully, I thought I was bowling well in the IPL. In Australia, I had a chat with Ravi (Shastri) and Virat (Kohli), they felt I was bowling well.”
💬 This body is ageing, but I won't be surprised if I surpass myself in the future: @ashwinravi99 👌🏻
Confidence 💯 percent from the champion spinner 🔝#TeamIndia #INDvENG #PinkBallTest @Paytm pic.twitter.com/vTcdoUGTj7
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 25, 2021
Ashwin further added, “I worked a lot on my fitness, this body is ageing, it has looked upwards for me since the lockdown. I have been having a lot of chats recently — it’s incredibly difficult watching the game from the dressing-room, you don’t know how things work. We lost the first Test and it’s extra special to come back and win.”
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The veteran Indian spinner also said that it was a pleasant experience to reach the tally of 400 Test wickets and said that the spinners bowled well to ensure India ended on the winning side.
Thank you!! I am truly humbled by all the wonderful wishes coming in! pic.twitter.com/3MZLMaY5OH
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) February 25, 2021
Ravichandran Ashwin explained, “Pleasant experience (on reaching 400 Test wickets). Good that it happened in a winning cause. We were worried after getting bowled out for 145, didn’t think we didn’t have many runs on the board. We then bowled beautifully on a wicket assisting us.”
Ashwin has been bowling at his peak in recent times, but the spinner said that he wasn’t sure that he would start in the series against Australia.
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Talking about the same, Ashwin said, “At the start of the Australian tour, I didn’t think I would be starting, but then (Ravindra) Jadeja broke down and it might have had to happen. People are asking the same question. I want to keep improving, that’s what motivates me a lot.”
