Ravichandran Ashwin Opens Up On 'Tough Experience' Of Staying Away From Team India
Ravichandran Ashwin picked up his last five-wicket haul in Sri Lanka in August 2017. On Friday, he picked up another in the ongoing first Test against South Africa in Vizag. Between this time period, Ravichandran Ashwin could have taken more five-wicket hauls but he did not really retain his place in the playing eleven.
Injury as well as some indifferent displays saw him warm the bench more often than not. On India’s last overseas tour, Ravindra Jadeja got the nod ahead of him in both the Tests against West Indies. The ongoing game is his first international game this year and he did not take long to make a mark.
The off-spinner gave India a solid start with the ball by picking up two quick wickets on day two. On day three, he picked the wickets of Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock and Vernon Philander to make sure India remain ahead of the visitors. Speaking at the end of the day, the spin spearhead opened up on his experience in the last one year or so when he lost his automatic place in the team.
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He said that he made sure to play whenever he got an opportunity while not being a part of the Indian team.
“To stay away from not playing cricket itself is very tough for me. In order to substitute that, I played whatever games I got,” Ravichandran Ashwin said.
“I tried and made an opportunity for myself to go and play some county cricket. I tried and played the TNPL as much as I could, played some league cricket in Chennai,” added Ashwin who has also lost his place in the ODI and T20I squads.
Ashwin revealed he shut himself out of other things to focus on playing cricket.
“It is very important to do what I do. I’ve literally stopped reading about the game like I used to do in the past. I actually stopped watching cricket for a brief period. I just wanted to play,” said the star man.
He concluded by saying that he is elated to be back into the team and was also delighted to mark the occasion with a five-wicket haul.
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“I am elated to be back. It is always special for India. There is nothing like picking up a five-wicket haul for your country. This place is very special for me,” said Ravichandran Ashwin.
