'It's not only him saying it, he hit first-ball six': Ravichandran Ashwin in awe of Rohit Sharma

The Indian cricket team recorded a dominating whitewash against Bangladesh in the two-match Test series by winning the rain-effected second and final Test by seven wickets at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur on Tuesday, October 1.

Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Shubman Gill were the main architects of Team India’s thrilling 2-0 Test series win over Bangladesh at home. However, Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah also played significant roles in India’s clean sweep in the Test series against the Tigers.

Ravichandran Ashwin shines as India seals Test series against Bangladesh

The Indian team had won the first Test by 280 runs against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai last month. However, the second and final Test at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur was a frustrating yet thrilling one, as India pulled off the match result inside two days after almost half of the match was washed away by rain.

Rohit Sharma and his brigade switched to their ultra-aggressive mode on Day 4, as they dismissed Bangladesh to 233 runs in their first essay and then declared their first innings at 285/9 inside 35 overs. On Day 5, an Indian spinner came into the picture, as the tourists were restricted to 146 in the second inning at the Green Park Stadium.

Later, India chased down the 95-run target inside 18 overs with seven wickets in hand and with more than a session to spare, thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s fifty and Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 29 against Bangladesh in Kanpur. By sealing the Test series 2-0, India went closer to the WTC final.

Well, Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin was adjudged Player of the Series for his remarkable contribution with both bat and ball in the team’s dramatic 2-0 series win over Bangladesh. Ashwin finished the home series with 114 runs and 11 wickets against Bangladesh.

I'm happy to settle into the rhythm: Ravichandran Ashwin

After winning the Player of the Series award, Ravichandran Ashwin said, "Really glad I'm able to turn up performances for the team's victory. Winning this game was important for us. Lot of bowlers contributed really well for us today. Massive win for us in the context of the WTC."

Ravichandran Ashwin further lauded Rohit Sharma for walking the talk and leading the team from the front by playing an attacking brand of cricket. Ravichandran Ashwin said:

"When we bowled them out yesterday, it was little after lunch. Rohit was keen that we needed 80 overs to bowl at them. And the moment he came inside out and gave that talk where we're going to go after it even if we get out under 230. It's not only him saying it, he went out there and hit his first ball for six. He set the tone that way and obviously follows on from there."

Ravichandran Ashwin also said that he is delighted to be a part of bowling unit that has Bumrah, Siraj, Akash and Jadeja in it. Ravichandran Ashwin said:

"The kind of bowling attack I'm part of, incredibly proud of it. How Jassi bowls, how Siraj turns in, how Akash turned up, ad don't have to mention much about Jaddu. With the new ball you get more bite out of the surface. It is slow. The more you put overspin, it's going to be harder because the ball doesn't leave the surface so you must be able to change the pace up.

"We've played enough on these surfaces around the country where the soil is similar. So we expect a team with such experience to make those adjustments. I don't use it as much as I do in the white ball format (carrom ball).

"I'm happy to settle into the rhythm. The revs I put on the ball cannot be underestimated. So I believe in it a lot more. The different, subtle variations that I can bring to the table. It's about building the spell and getting into a fine rhythm as most spinners will say," Ravichandran Ashwin added.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and India scripted history in the Kanpur Test

Meanwhile, Jaiswal now has 929 runs to his name in Test cricket in 2024, the most by an Indian batter in a calendar year before turning 23. With his feat, Jaiswal surpassed the legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar’s tally of 918 runs back in 1971 in a calendar year in Test cricket.

Throughout Test cricket’s rich history, weather disruptions have often turned matches into dramatic affairs. From Dunedin in 1955 to Kanpur in 2024, rain has been an unexpected player, forcing teams to adapt. Notably, the 2000 Centurion Test between England and South Africa saw a historic forfeited innings—the only one in Test cricket.

The 2021 World Test Championship final in Southampton introduced a reserve day for such a situation, ultimately delivering a thrilling result with New Zealand winning the game against India.

Notably, with this win, India cemented their position as a team with the most consecutive Test series wins at home. They have now won 18 back-to-back Test series at home since 2013.