NEW DELHI: Recognized for his astute mind and an insatiable curiosity for experimentation, seasoned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin maintains an unyielding dedication to his bowling craft and is all the time striving to outwit opposing batsmen, stated his longtime nationwide teammate Cheteshwar Pujara.
Ashwin is all set to mark his one hundredth Take a look at look within the fifth and last sport in opposition to England in Dharamsala, beginning March 7.
Ashwin’s journey to the milestone Take a look at has seen exceptional achievements. Just lately, the 37-year-old surpassed the 500-wicket mark within the third Take a look at in Rajkot, turning into solely the second Indian to attain the feat.
“Studying batters has all the time been a key a part of what Ash does. He’s all the time one step forward, alert to the smallest cues. He’s consistently observing the batter… No element is simply too small for his sharp thoughts. He places numerous effort into every supply,” Pujara wrote in his column for ‘ESPNcricinfo’.
“Having simply change into the second quickest bowler to 500 Take a look at wickets, Ash now deserves one other equally important landmark – of 100 Exams. He is in all probability a bit of late getting there for varied causes. However I’m actually completely happy for him. He’s somebody who has all the time been able to take the problem on and do the laborious yards for the staff. He deserves it probably the most.
“He has developed and survived for a very long time regardless of enjoying a number of codecs, and that’s primarily due to his revolutionary thoughts: he’s not afraid or shy to check out new issues, even at the price of failing within the course of.”
Pujara, who additionally performed his one hundredth Take a look at final yr however has been out favour presently, stated there was no respite for batters whereas dealing with Ashwin as he was all the time on a look-out for taking wicket.
“There isn’t any respite. In the event you’re comfy batting in opposition to him from over the stumps, he’ll change to around the stumps, from the place he is ready to create that angle the place, if the ball goes straight, there’s an edge in play even if you’re seeking to defend.
“He’s consistently observing the batter, his set off, the place the backlift is coming from, which stump he’s on. So if a batter is seeking to sweep, Ash will go a bit of fuller and attempt to block him by bowling the faster supply, nearly a yorker size, and get an lbw.”
Pujara cited an instance of Ashwin’s meticulous preparation earlier than a match.
“He (Ashwin) has spoken beforehand about how he obsessively pored over movies of Steve Smith a number of months earlier than India’s tour of Australia in 2020-21. Earlier than the Melbourne Take a look at, I bear in mind we chalked out the plan of getting a leg gully in opposition to Smith as a result of there was a little bit of moisture, which made the ball maintain a bit.
“And that’s the reason Ash ended up bowling with the brand new ball. A part of the plan was additionally that he would come around the stumps to create the angle. And the plan labored – I caught Smith at leg gully.”
Pujara additionally had the privilege of “having fun with up shut” Ashwin’s duels in opposition to star England batter Joe Root, one other fantastic participant of spin. The 2 are set to resume their rivalry in Dharamsala once more.
“In the event you have a look at his report, Root has all the time been a proactive batter – he’ll both attempt to play the sweep or reverse sweep, or attempt to rotate the strike so he does not need to face six balls off any explicit bowler. I am not saying that Root does not defend nicely, however general, his sport plan is to place bowlers beneath strain.
“To counter that, Ashwin’s tactic has been to maintain Root on strike by taking out the brief leg or different close-in fielders, leaving only one slip, and inserting a fielder at sq. leg to stop the one. It does not matter whether or not you might be enjoying on a flat pitch or on a turner, Ash desires Root to defend these six balls and see how he reacts.
“It’s a battle of wills between two prime gamers, which makes for an engrossing contest.”
Pujara additionally described Ashwin as “in all probability one of many fittest I’ve recognized” among the many bowlers, ending up bowling 30, 35, 40 overs in a day, however he nonetheless has the stamina to hold on subsequent day.
Exterior of cricket issues, Pujara stated “you possibly can by no means win an argument” in opposition to Ashwin.
“He’s very good, and his vocabulary might be among the many finest within the cricketing fraternity.
“However Ash will not be a foul loser. We play desk tennis and tennis – two issues during which I take pleasure in having an edge over him! – and he is an efficient sport.
“I want I had his unimaginable reminiscence. That’s in all probability as a result of he has a thoughts that’s all the time ticking. Away from cricket, he’s a voracious reader, enjoys chess on-line, and is open to studying new issues.”
(With inputs from PTI)
Ashwin is all set to mark his one hundredth Take a look at look within the fifth and last sport in opposition to England in Dharamsala, beginning March 7.
Ashwin’s journey to the milestone Take a look at has seen exceptional achievements. Just lately, the 37-year-old surpassed the 500-wicket mark within the third Take a look at in Rajkot, turning into solely the second Indian to attain the feat.
“Studying batters has all the time been a key a part of what Ash does. He’s all the time one step forward, alert to the smallest cues. He’s consistently observing the batter… No element is simply too small for his sharp thoughts. He places numerous effort into every supply,” Pujara wrote in his column for ‘ESPNcricinfo’.
“Having simply change into the second quickest bowler to 500 Take a look at wickets, Ash now deserves one other equally important landmark – of 100 Exams. He is in all probability a bit of late getting there for varied causes. However I’m actually completely happy for him. He’s somebody who has all the time been able to take the problem on and do the laborious yards for the staff. He deserves it probably the most.
“He has developed and survived for a very long time regardless of enjoying a number of codecs, and that’s primarily due to his revolutionary thoughts: he’s not afraid or shy to check out new issues, even at the price of failing within the course of.”
Pujara, who additionally performed his one hundredth Take a look at final yr however has been out favour presently, stated there was no respite for batters whereas dealing with Ashwin as he was all the time on a look-out for taking wicket.
“There isn’t any respite. In the event you’re comfy batting in opposition to him from over the stumps, he’ll change to around the stumps, from the place he is ready to create that angle the place, if the ball goes straight, there’s an edge in play even if you’re seeking to defend.
“He’s consistently observing the batter, his set off, the place the backlift is coming from, which stump he’s on. So if a batter is seeking to sweep, Ash will go a bit of fuller and attempt to block him by bowling the faster supply, nearly a yorker size, and get an lbw.”
Pujara cited an instance of Ashwin’s meticulous preparation earlier than a match.
“He (Ashwin) has spoken beforehand about how he obsessively pored over movies of Steve Smith a number of months earlier than India’s tour of Australia in 2020-21. Earlier than the Melbourne Take a look at, I bear in mind we chalked out the plan of getting a leg gully in opposition to Smith as a result of there was a little bit of moisture, which made the ball maintain a bit.
“And that’s the reason Ash ended up bowling with the brand new ball. A part of the plan was additionally that he would come around the stumps to create the angle. And the plan labored – I caught Smith at leg gully.”
Pujara additionally had the privilege of “having fun with up shut” Ashwin’s duels in opposition to star England batter Joe Root, one other fantastic participant of spin. The 2 are set to resume their rivalry in Dharamsala once more.
“In the event you have a look at his report, Root has all the time been a proactive batter – he’ll both attempt to play the sweep or reverse sweep, or attempt to rotate the strike so he does not need to face six balls off any explicit bowler. I am not saying that Root does not defend nicely, however general, his sport plan is to place bowlers beneath strain.
“To counter that, Ashwin’s tactic has been to maintain Root on strike by taking out the brief leg or different close-in fielders, leaving only one slip, and inserting a fielder at sq. leg to stop the one. It does not matter whether or not you might be enjoying on a flat pitch or on a turner, Ash desires Root to defend these six balls and see how he reacts.
“It’s a battle of wills between two prime gamers, which makes for an engrossing contest.”
Pujara additionally described Ashwin as “in all probability one of many fittest I’ve recognized” among the many bowlers, ending up bowling 30, 35, 40 overs in a day, however he nonetheless has the stamina to hold on subsequent day.
Exterior of cricket issues, Pujara stated “you possibly can by no means win an argument” in opposition to Ashwin.
“He’s very good, and his vocabulary might be among the many finest within the cricketing fraternity.
“However Ash will not be a foul loser. We play desk tennis and tennis – two issues during which I take pleasure in having an edge over him! – and he is an efficient sport.
“I want I had his unimaginable reminiscence. That’s in all probability as a result of he has a thoughts that’s all the time ticking. Away from cricket, he’s a voracious reader, enjoys chess on-line, and is open to studying new issues.”
(With inputs from PTI)
