‘Stole the fifer away from Kuldeep Yadav’

India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin opened up about his performance with the ball in the second innings of the Ranchi Test against England. He said that he put his hand up when Rohit Sharma asked him and Ravindra Jadeja about who will take the new ball.

Ravichandran Ashwin was the wrecker-in-chief behind India bundling out England for just 145 runs in the second innings. The off-spinner took the new ball and made an impact immediately as he bowled impeccable Iines and lengths.

Ravichandran Ashwin first removed Ben Duckett for 15 runs and then followed it up with the wicket of  Ollie Pope for a duck. If this was not enough, the veteran off-spinner then chipped in and sent Joe Root packing for 11 runs to pick three wickets in no time.

The carnage didn’t stop there from Ravichandran Ashwin as he then returned in the second spell and completed what he waited for a while. The off-spinner removed Ben Foakes and James Anderson to complete his 35th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

Ravichandran Ashwin expressed his delight while bowling with the new ball and said that he was glad that it paid off again. The off-spinner also talked about his variations when there was not much turn on offer and elaborated:

“You know me very well Ravi Bhai. Rohit said in the huddle – both of you are starting, who wants to start. I put my hand up and said I will start from this side. Glad (it paid off). I have got some sort of an attachment with the new ball and I enjoyed bowling a little bit more speed. Loved it once again. (On what he was relying on when there was not much turn on offer) I had to go back and rewire the game.

“I am someone who comes from the top and like the ball to drop on the pitch. Somehow when I come to the Eastern part of the country I find that there is not enough bite out of the surface. The bounce is literally around shin height if I can say that, so had to bowl a lot of side spin, had to hammer into the pitch for the first part of the spell and later from the other side I felt there was a little bit more purchase. Had to literally rewire and it’s a mental switch I had to make.”

Ravichandran Ashwin also opened up about why he didn’t bowl carrom ball early on, saying that he didn’t want to give away extra runs before getting into the full rhythm. He also lavished rich praise on Kuldeep Yadav, saying hilariously that he stole the fifer from the spinner. He added:

“For some strange reason my knee has been acting up. It just takes me 10-12 balls to warm up. I had a warmup before getting in as well. So once I got my length right that is when I wanted to try it (carrom ball) because I didn’t want to give away extra runs because we were chasing last, so every single run to chase is a big bonus. Phenomenal character (by the entire bowling unit).

“I thought Kuldeep bowled brilliantly. What I loved about Kuldeep today was the way he worked on his run-up, momentum and all that sort of stuff, We all know how much revs he can put on the ball, what skill he has got. The change of pace that changes the trajectory, which he is willing to do now… I think he double the bowler that he is. Really happy for him. I just stole the fifer away from him. That’s how the game goes.”

That feeling is surreal when you win a Test match after 4 tough days – Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin further talked about the match situation, saying that winning the match after four tough days will be a surreal feeling for them. He also lauded skipper Rohit Sharma (24) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (16) for their unbeaten 40 runs partnership in the chase.

Ravichandran Ashwin, who will be playing his 100th Test match in Dharamsala, said that he has enjoyed every single moment of being with this team. He elaborated:

“We batted almost until Lunch, if we had given up even 70-80 runs, the thought when we went back to the hotel last night, we would have taken it with both hands. You can take all the wickets you want, you can perform every time, but the best thing to happen is when the team wins. That feeling is surreal when you win a Test match after 4 tough days.

“I’d like to have that feeling tomorrow. Rohit and Jaiswal have started really well, hopefully they’ll carry on tomorrow. Sunny bhai, you’re being too generous, thanks you so much (on the 500-wicket milestone). I’m definitely past all these things now, I’ve enjoyed every single moment of being with this team and the longer it lasts, I’ll be very happy,” he concluded.