"I Could Never Be A Virat Kohli" - Ravichandran Ashwin Calls His Fitness Journey 'Pleasurable'

Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has opened up on the sacrifices he has made to improve his fitness on the field. However, Ravichandran Ashwin added that his fitness journey has been a journey of pleasure and joy.

Ravichandran Ashwin cannot be called as one of the fittest and quickest on the field. When he made his debut 13 years ago, he lacked fitness on the field. However, he has worked hard to improve his fitness and sacrificed his lifestyle for the same.

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It’s Been A Journey Of Pleasure: Ravichandran Ashwin

While speaking to former India Women coach WV Raman during a show on Sportstar, Ravichandran Ashwin said that his journey to fitness has been one of the easiest sacrifices in his life.

“I would say it is one of the easiest sacrifices I have made in my life. I have worked hard on my fitness but I would never hold it against me or never give it as an excuse. The reason I say that is because the game is something that I love so much. And if you love something so much, anything that comes along with it that you have to do to stay relevant is just a natural extension,” Ashwin said.

Ashwin also added that he sacrificed his food and lifestyle for the same. He also admitted that he could never be like Virat Kohli in terms of fitness and called his sacrifice a journey of pleasure and joy.

“I have sacrificed my food, I have sacrificed my lifestyle, I train doubly harder and yet I could never be a Virat Kohli. And that is something I’ve made peace with, because that is his journey and this is my journey. For me, not being naturally athletic is something that stuck as a tag with me all through my life but it’s never stopped me from working hard on it and stay relevant”.

For me, staying relevant, to be able to put myself on the ground and exhibit my skill has been at the forefront. I have never really seen it as a sacrifice. Instead, it’s been an absolute journey of pleasure and joy,” Ashwin further added.

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Meanwhile, Ashwin was part of the recent ICC ODI World Cup 2023, where India ended as runners-up. He played just one match in the tournament. However, Ashwin is a regular member of the Test side.

He is the second-highest wicket-taker for India across all formats. The right-arm spinner will be seen in the forthcoming Test series against South Africa in December.