The Purpose To Play Club Cricket Was To Switch From White Ball Game To Red Ball Game: Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin returned to his club team days after a gruelling IPL season, and the top India spinner claims he did so to get back into red-ball cricket mode ahead of the postponed fifth Test in England, which starts on July 1.

On June 15, the Indian Test team is expected to leave for England. Before the Test in Edgbaston, it will play a warm-up game against Leicestershire.

I Want To Keep Ticking On My Fitness And Keep Working: Ravichandran Ashwin

Just days after playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL final, Ashwin chose to play for his club team MRC ‘A’ in the TNCA First Division semifinal and final.

“The purpose of playing these games (First Division) is to shift from 20 overs to this (red-ball) format…All these things are workload management. As you grow older, you play more and play smarter.

“I am trying to do that. I am enjoying my game. I just want to go there (England) and take it as it comes. I feel I can contribute with the bat and bowl well. I want to keep ticking on my fitness and keep working,” the 35-year-old spinner told reporters after leading MRC ‘A’ to their maiden First Division title.

When asked if he had any goals in mind, Ashwin, who recently passed great Kapil Dev (434) to become India’s second most wicket-taker (with 442 scalps) after ace leg-spinner Anil Kumble (619), responded no, “I have worked incredibly hard on my game. I think a lot. “I have done all these things over the years that I feel I am in a position where I can take it as it comes. I am happy playing the kind of cricket I am playing. I do not want to think too far ahead.”

Despite their prowess in white-ball events (T20 and 50-overs), Tamil Nadu has failed to get past the league stage in the last two Ranji seasons. On that, Ashwin said, “At the moment, there is intent. Our fast bowlers are struggling to find the right length and balance. We have got spin by a dozen; we can manage and all that. In the Ranji Trophy also, when spin comes into play, we come to our own. We know how to do it. Fast bowling is something that we definitely need to work on,” he added.

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