NEW DELHI: Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Sunday shared how former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh inspired him in his early days. Ashwin revealed that he used to replicate Harbhajan’s bowling action during his junior cricket career.
Ashwin admitted that when he joined the Indian Test team as Harbhajan’s replacement, people were skeptical about whether he could handle the pressure and fill such big shoes.
The 38-year-old Ashwin played a crucial role in securing India’s 1-0 lead against Bangladesh on Sunday at the Chepauk.
He delivered an outstanding all-round performance, starting with a century in the first innings that saved India from a precarious 144 for 6 in the first innings. Then, on the fourth day, he took a six-wicket haul, leading India to a massive 280-run victory over Bangladesh.
“It was huge shoes to fill for me. I used to replicate his action and bowl in junior age categories, so he was a huge inspiration. When I came into the team replacing him, I never thought we’d both coincide at the same time, but it so happened. There were constant doubts about whether I could deliver in red-ball cricket because I came through the IPL, which shaped people’s perceptions,” Ashwin said on JioCinema.
With his 6 for 88, Ashwin reached the milestone of 750 international wickets. He is now only the fourth spinner to achieve this after Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, and Anil Kumble.
The achievement also marks Ashwin’s 37th Test five-wicket haul in an innings, placing him second alongside Shane Warne (37), and behind Muttiah Muralitharan (67).
“But Test cricket is a format I’ve adored, and I wanted to improve every single day. A lot of people helped me along the way, and I’m so glad to be standing here today,” he added.
Ashwin moved up to the eighth spot on the all-time leading Test wicket-takers list, surpassing Courtney Walsh’s 519 wickets. He now has 522 Test wickets to his name.
Reflecting on his journey, Ashwin explained how his bowling and batting have evolved in Test cricket.
“I don’t think like, ‘I want to go out there and make a hundred.’ I genuinely aim to get a five-wicket haul in every Test match. But in recent years, my batting has become simpler than it was in the past.
“I used to confuse myself, overthinking as a bowler while batting, but now I keep it simple—watch the ball and react. Compartmentalizing both aspects was a challenge, but I feel like I’ve cracked it.”
When India found themselves in trouble at 144/6, Ashwin stitched a vital 199-run partnership with fellow spin bowling allrounder Ravindra Jadeja (86), helping India recover, and took a first-inning total to 376. Then, the spin duo then joined hands to wreak havoc on Bangladesh batters on the fourth day of the Test, sharing nine wickets between them.
Speaking about his relationship with Jadeja, he said, “There might have been competition in the past, chasing wickets and all, but in the last four or five years, we’ve started enjoying each other’s success a lot more. There’s an understanding of what kind of bowling we need on certain days.
“Jadeja is one of the best batters in the Indian team, and I might even say in the world right now. He’s got a solid game plan and is a trusted batter at this point in time. He calms the dressing room when he walks in and has helped me through difficult phases. We share a lot, and I think we’re enjoying each other’s company on and off the field.”
The second Test will begin from September 27 at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur.
Ashwin admitted that when he joined the Indian Test team as Harbhajan’s replacement, people were skeptical about whether he could handle the pressure and fill such big shoes.
The 38-year-old Ashwin played a crucial role in securing India’s 1-0 lead against Bangladesh on Sunday at the Chepauk.
He delivered an outstanding all-round performance, starting with a century in the first innings that saved India from a precarious 144 for 6 in the first innings. Then, on the fourth day, he took a six-wicket haul, leading India to a massive 280-run victory over Bangladesh.
“It was huge shoes to fill for me. I used to replicate his action and bowl in junior age categories, so he was a huge inspiration. When I came into the team replacing him, I never thought we’d both coincide at the same time, but it so happened. There were constant doubts about whether I could deliver in red-ball cricket because I came through the IPL, which shaped people’s perceptions,” Ashwin said on JioCinema.
With his 6 for 88, Ashwin reached the milestone of 750 international wickets. He is now only the fourth spinner to achieve this after Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, and Anil Kumble.
The achievement also marks Ashwin’s 37th Test five-wicket haul in an innings, placing him second alongside Shane Warne (37), and behind Muttiah Muralitharan (67).
“But Test cricket is a format I’ve adored, and I wanted to improve every single day. A lot of people helped me along the way, and I’m so glad to be standing here today,” he added.
Ashwin moved up to the eighth spot on the all-time leading Test wicket-takers list, surpassing Courtney Walsh’s 519 wickets. He now has 522 Test wickets to his name.
Reflecting on his journey, Ashwin explained how his bowling and batting have evolved in Test cricket.
“I don’t think like, ‘I want to go out there and make a hundred.’ I genuinely aim to get a five-wicket haul in every Test match. But in recent years, my batting has become simpler than it was in the past.
“I used to confuse myself, overthinking as a bowler while batting, but now I keep it simple—watch the ball and react. Compartmentalizing both aspects was a challenge, but I feel like I’ve cracked it.”
When India found themselves in trouble at 144/6, Ashwin stitched a vital 199-run partnership with fellow spin bowling allrounder Ravindra Jadeja (86), helping India recover, and took a first-inning total to 376. Then, the spin duo then joined hands to wreak havoc on Bangladesh batters on the fourth day of the Test, sharing nine wickets between them.
Speaking about his relationship with Jadeja, he said, “There might have been competition in the past, chasing wickets and all, but in the last four or five years, we’ve started enjoying each other’s success a lot more. There’s an understanding of what kind of bowling we need on certain days.
“Jadeja is one of the best batters in the Indian team, and I might even say in the world right now. He’s got a solid game plan and is a trusted batter at this point in time. He calms the dressing room when he walks in and has helped me through difficult phases. We share a lot, and I think we’re enjoying each other’s company on and off the field.”
The second Test will begin from September 27 at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur.
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