Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has recently revealed a secret that sometimes, he takes the help of the media to get footage of how players are preparing before the Test. However, Ashwin dominated players like Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith during India’s tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020/21. He also claimed that he could see from the footage that Labuschagne and Smith tried their best to work on his threat in the nets.
Speaking to former Indian legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble on Jio Cinema, Ravichandran Ashwin said: “Sometimes I make friends with the media guys and get footage from the backside when the batters are practicing in the nets. When I went to Australia, there were occasions where Marnus and Smith were using their feet and going back in the nets. It really works because I feel human beings are very insecure. The moment they know you have them, you’re winning half the battle.”
While Ravichandran Ashwin said that probably he didn’t enjoy his success as much as he should have, he also said that his desire to keep adding to his game as well. He also believes England and Australian batters over the years have gotten better at playing spin and at times and dominated their Indian counterparts.
“I feel England and Australia batters bat against spin much better than some of our own on occasions because they know this is a very
stern challenge so year across they end up preparing to play spin, like we prepare to play seam and bounce. One of the greatest success stories of finger spin has to be how I have made a comeback into the T20I and ODI side over the past few years. The fact remains that the number of repititions you give as any spinner or any bowler and the amount of awareness you have over your skill will definitely supersede what part of skill you have.”
However, Ravichandran Ashwin will play his 100th Test for India in the final game of the ongoing series against England in Dharamsala beginning on March 7 as well. Ashwin has claimed 507 Test wickets from 99 Tests so far as well.
