Veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed how he managed both the batting and bowling, something he called ‘different sports in the same game’ was hugely beneficial to building his rearguard century at the MA Chidambaram stadium in the first Test against Bangladesh. Where he shone with the ball and also smashed a century in the first innings as well. Ashwin’s 113 off just 133 deliveries as India posted 376 as well.
“Surprisingly enough, I found myself in a really good, happy space,” R Ashwin said of the moment he walked out to bat. “Like I said, in the past, the thing is I have explained this again and again… bowling and batting are very separate sports in the same game. One is done consciously. Other one is done subconsciously. So, for me to compartmentalize both has taken its own due. At this stage, I am able to sequence that and split both of them and see as a cricketer. So, when I walked there, the only one thing I wanted to do was settle down [in] my game.”
“I [had] played some cricket leading up to it [TNPL]. Of course, it was a different format. Put a lot of work into different aspects of my game. But the one thing I keep telling myself now is to actually watch that ball real hard. The mind can play tricks because I am a bowler who plays on 12, 18, 24 balls ahead when I am sequencing it. As a batter, I shouldn’t do that. I just use my experience when I get in. So, now it’s more about just focusing on the ball and hitting it as I see it,” he further added.
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However, the century was R Ashwin’s second at his home ground as well. He also smashed a hundred against England in 2021. When he was asked to compare the two knocks, the veteran couldn’t pick one over the other as well.
“Both. [The England Test] had so much riding on it. We lost the first one and came to the second. Last time when I played at Chennai, I felt like I was making sort of a comeback in more than one way. I was a little here and there. I went to Australia and came back here [uncertain of my place]. That was different and I enjoyed it. I think my batting has come along a lot better since that particular game. I worked quite a lot on how I can maximise my shots, maximise my game. I worked on how I can play fast bowling and all that sort of stuff. I’m glad it’s coming out nicely,” he again shared.
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However, R Ashwin also praised Ravindra Jadeja, who missed out on his own hundred, but with whom Ashwin had a great partnership in the middle.
“It’s happened. You don’t plan for such things. Jaddu is one cricketer who has evolved so nicely. I always envy him. I have made that amply clear. He’s so gifted, so talented. He has found ways to maximize his potential. He keeps it really simple. He can repeat it day in and day out. I wish I could be him but I am glad I am myself. He is an exceptionally good cricketer. I am happy for him. Likewise, in so many ways, watching him bat over the last couple of years has given me insight on how better I can be. Both of us have grown together. Both of us have done some special things. We really value one another at this stage. Both of us are enjoying each other’s success more than ever before,” R Ashwin concluded.