IND vs WI: It's Not The Wickets Or The Runs: Ravichandran Ashwin After Overtaking James Anderson In Elite List

Ravichandran Ashwin has had a day to remember on the opening day of the ongoing first Test against West Indies in Dominica. All eyes were on the veteran spinner as the cricketing world was keen to see how he would respond after being dropped from the playing eleven for the World Test Championship final last month.

And just like he usually does, Ravichandran Ashwin responded in style. The India spin spearhead showed the world why he is the top-ranked Test bowler by blowing away West Indies. Ravichandran Ashwin picked up five wickets for 60 runs to lead India’s charge with the bat. Thanks to his performance, India bowled out the hosts for just 150 runs.

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The latest spell has further enhanced Ravichandran Ashwin’s reputation as one of Test cricket’s most decorated spinners. He now has 33 five-wicket haul in Tests, which is the most by any active player. Ashwin went past England great James Anderson and is currently at the sixth spot on the overall list of most five-wicket hauls in Tests.

Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma | Rishabh Pant | KL Rahul | Suryakumar Yadav | Sanju Samson | Shreyas Iyer | Yuzvendra Chahal | Jasprit Bumrah

Ravichandran Aswin not getting carried away:

While Ravichandran Ashwin continues his remarkable journey with the ball in Test cricket, he is not getting carried away by all the laurels that are coming his way. Speaking after the day’s play, the India star played down the record-breaking haul and stated that he is only focused on making the team win.

“Rahul bhai (India coach Rahul Dravid) always says it’s not the wickets or the runs that you remember,” Ravichandran Ashwin said.

“The first time I met him as coach he made a statement and he said ‘it’s not about how many runs you make and how many wickets you take, as you will forget about all of them and it is the great memories that you create as a team that will stick with you’.

“And I am totally behind that. I don’t know if he has brainwashed me to do that, but from my point of view I definitely think I have got a lot of gratitude and am very grateful for the journey and what the game has given me,” he added.

Ashwin might be one of the most decorated Test bowlers of all time but even he had his share of ups and downs in his career. Just a few days ago, he could not even make it to the playing eleven for the WTC final. Time and again, the world’s number one Test bowler has faced such setbacks and he seemed to have made peace with it.

“There is no cricketer or human being in this world that has gone through the highs without the lows,” Ashwin explained.

“When you have lows it gives you opportunity. You can either sulk, talk about it or complain about it and go along with it and go down, or you learn from it and I am someone who has constantly learned from my lows.

“The best thing that will happen today after this good day that I have had, is that I will have a good meal and a good talk to my family and go to bed and forget about it.

“When you have a good day you know you have had a good day, but there are days you can work hard and get better for tomorrow.

“It is not a journey that has been very easy, so for me the journey has been draining but I am very thankful for all the lows that have come my way also because without the lows there are no highs in your life,” he added.

Talking about the game, India openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal have replied strongly with the bat. At stumps, India were on 80 for no loss.

Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma | Rishabh Pant | KL Rahul | Suryakumar Yadav | Sanju Samson | Shreyas Iyer | Yuzvendra Chahal | Jasprit Bumrah