IND vs SA: Maybe We Are A Bit Short– Ravichandran Ashwin On India's 202 Total In The 1st Innings Of The 2nd Test

Premier Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin while talking that India’s first innings total of 202 runs in the Johannesburg Test against South Africa said that India ” are a bit short”.

India managed to score 202 runs after winning the toss and batting first in the first innings of the second Test against South Africa, with the help of good knocks by stand-in captain KL Rahul (50) and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (46).

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Ashwin reckons that the excess of 260-270 is a good total in South Africa, however, he feels India can definitely make something out of their 202 runs total.

” (What is a) good total in South Africa has been tricky, especially in the first innings. It’s always a good thing to win the toss and bat first and you want to post a good score over maybe 260 or 270 which is around about score,” said Ashwin when asked what’s a tricky total.

“South Africa always batted first (in the past) and got in excess of 250 and dominated games. Maybe we are a bit short. But I still think we’ve got with our entire bowling arsenal available tomorrow. Fingers crossed. We can definitely make something out of this total,” he said, hoping Siraj will be fit to bowl on Day 2.

The veteran off-spinner added that the surface at the Wanderers was “little two-paced” on Day 1.

“I just felt the pitch was a little two paced. Generally Wanderers has the tendency to start a bit slower and start getting quicker. It did quicken up a bit but it just feels a little different to a typical wanderers pitch so we’ll have to wait and see how it responds tomorrow,” he said.

I Think I Lost A Bit Of My Flow With Respect To Getting Into Good Positions At The Crease – Ravichandran Ashwin On His Batting

The 35-year-old contributed crucial 46 runs off just 50 deliveries including 6 fours and he looked brilliant out in middle. Meanwhile, Ashwin believes that he has got flow back in his batting.

“Look, I think in between somewhere for a couple of years, trying to you know sort of get very technically right or whatever it is to try and build on scores, I think I lost a bit of my flow with respect to getting into good positions at the crease and I’ve always I knew even before that I’ve always batted at a good clip.”

“So it’s not been a conscious effort to go out there and keep playing those shots. If it’s there, it’s there. For me, I get into positions where I can play some of those shots, which may be some of the other specialist batters might not be able to play but this freedom is what gave me success in the past,” he said.

Ashwin spoke about India’s stand-in skipper KL Rahul who has been the top performer for the side in the series against South Africa so far. The veteran off-spinner feels that Rahul has found the solution of success in the purest format of the game.

“In Test cricket, there is no one formula for success. Teams are analysing there’s a lot more footage available. There is a lot more technical assessment and breakdowns that go on in today’s world and Test cricket is all about you responding to the different sort of questions that are being thrown at you.”

“KL has found that solution to what’s what he probably thought he needed to respond to and it’s working for him and he’s one of those players who’s got the game we all know that he’s got the game he’s got the raw material so it’s all about how you keep finding out and keep answering these constant questions that are being thrown at you. Since the England series, he has looked the part,” Ashwin added.

Also Read: IND vs SA: Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane Probably Have Next Innings To Save Their Test Careers – Sunil Gavaskar

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