Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin admitted that he was not at his best during the practice sessions before the match between West Indies and India in Dominica. Ashwin revealed that he felt jet-lagged and struggled to adjust to the conditions. However, he noticed some minor issues and took a unique approach to address them.
To regain his arm speed, Ashwin started practicing on cement wickets. He believed that these problems could arise after a long flight, but he was determined to overcome them. His efforts paid off as Ashwin went on to take his 33rd five-wicket haul, crushing the home team in the first innings.
WATCH – Mohammed Siraj’s Sensational Catch Leaves Fans In Awe
“I landed in Barbados, I felt a bit jet-lagged as I came from the TNPL. I felt that the shoulder, the arm speed and the body position on the crease wasn’t really ideal. The first day in Barbados, when we played on the practice surface, the nets were okay, but I didn’t feel okay at all. The second day, I did another 8-10 overs, and that was slightly better,” Ravichandran Ashwin explained.
How does one overcome jet lag, adapts to the bowling conditions and executes it to perfection?
Bowling on cement surfaces, says @ashwinravi99 😎
WATCH 🎥🔽 #TeamIndia | #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/5iYQS7XlyR
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 13, 2023
Ravichandran Ashwin emphasized the importance of adapting to different conditions, especially when playing on slow and turning surfaces. He mentioned that practicing on concrete or cement surfaces helped him find his sweet spot, where he could release the ball smoothly without exerting excessive force.
Thanks to Ashwin’s impressive performance, India managed to restrict West Indies to just 150 runs on Day 1. At the end of the day’s play, India was 70 runs behind the hosts. With a solid start from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma, India hopes to build on their momentum and put West Indies under pressure in the upcoming days of the match.
ALSO READ: Aakash Chopra Tips Virat Kohli To Break Overseas Century Drought In West Indies
Ravichandran Ashwin’s dedication to honing his skills and overcoming obstacles demonstrates his commitment to the game. Despite feeling jet-lagged and struggling in the initial practice sessions, he found a solution and delivered an outstanding performance. As the match progresses, cricket fans eagerly anticipate how Ashwin’s contribution will continue to shape the outcome for India.
