IND vs SA: 'It's Immaterial How I Bowl To Gill, Iyer' - Ravichandran Ashwin Opens Up On His Preparations

Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is currently the number one ranked bowler in the ICC men’s bowler rankings in Test cricket. Ashwin has showcased his brilliance in the longer format and has picked up 489 wickets from 94 Tests at an average of 23.65. He has also picked up 34 five-wicket hauls followed by eight ten-wicket hauls.

Apart from being a legendary bowler, Ravichandran Ashwin is a bowler with a great mindset. Ashwin knows how to play with the minds of the batsman and how to get him out. Ashwin plays various mind games with the batsman, which later confuses the batsman and becomes the reason for his wicket.

Ravichandran Ashwin was also picked in the 2023 ODI World Cup squad just for his experience and his genius ability. The Indian spinner will now feature in the two-match Test series against South Africa and will aim to script India’s first Test series win in South Africa.

R Ashwin is also looking forward to bowling to South African batsmen such as Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram. While speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin stated that he has been preparing for the South Africa Test series and added that he imagined bowling to Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma while bowling during the intra-squad practice match ahead of the boxing day Test match.

Ravichandran Ashwin very eager to bowl against South African right-handers

Ravichandran Ashwin said, “When it comes to right-handers, I have to imagine bowling to Markram or Bavuma on the crease. It is immaterial how I bowl to Shubman Gill or Shreyas Iyer. So, angling in, a quick one on the straighter lengths. A slower length outside off to Shreyas for him to defend. And a little faster ball later to gauge what shot they are playing and to check if they able to catch the drift. I’ve bowled a lot on the old ball now. That is better than bowling with the new ball.”

“Practice matches are very crucial in any visiting tour when it comes to a bowler. I decide on the lines that I bowl, I gauge my shoulder rotation, and I plan for the left-hander. I bowled my first ball to Yashashvi Jaiswal. My first intention would be to keep the ball in play on the stump line. Because there is a chance of the moisture of the pitch rubbing off on the ball, the batter won’t know if the ball is turning or coming straight to him. So there’s a chance of a catch on the short leg.”

Ravichandran Ashwin was not able to do much in the previous tour of South Africa and picked up just three wickets from three games which is very low for his ability. The ace Indian spinner is just 11 wickets away from the 500-wicket mark and will become the only second Indian bowler after Anil Kumble, to achieve the milestone.

The first match of the series will be played at the SuperSport Park in Centurion which is more fit for the seam bowlers. The Indian team were able to win a match here last time but lost the last two games and also the series. The Indian team will want to turn things around this time under Rohit Sharma.