The veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said his move to play club cricket in the TNCA First Division ahead of the England tour was mainly to get used to the longer format of the game after having played T20 cricket for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Ashwin turned up for his club team, MRC A in the knockout stages of the TNCA First Division tournament in Chennai, days after finishing his duties with RR in IPL 2022.

Ravichandran Ashwin played a key role in helping MRC A win the Raja of Palayampatti Sheid, helping his side reach the final earlier this week. Ashwin was seen doing vlogs about his team and his return to his college on the outskirts of Chennai where the matches were played.

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After the game, in a video shared on his Youtube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin said, “The purpose of playing these games (First Division) is to shift from 20 overs to this (red-ball) format…All these things are workload management. As you grow older, you play more and play smarter. I am trying to do that. I am enjoying my game. I just want to go there (England) and take it as it comes. I feel I can contribute with the bat and bowl well.”

Meanwhile, Ashwin played down the prospect of going past legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble as the all-time leading wicket-taker for India in Tests, saying he is not looking too far ahead and enjoy each and every outing for India at the highest level. Ashwin recently went past Kapil Dev’s tally of 434 wickets and currently has 442 wickets while Kumble is on top of the pile with 619 wickets in the longest format of the game.

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India will begin preparations for the rescheduled Test with a 4-day practice match against Leicestershire from June 24.

Talking about the same, Ravichandran Ashwin said, “I have done all these things over the years that I feel I am in a position where I can take it as it comes. I am happy playing the kind of cricket I am playing. I do not want to think too far ahead.”