Being selected for T20 World Cup 2021 was heartening news for me; it takes a lot to pick a wicket- Ashwin

Ashwin picked 2/14 vs AFG in his first T20I match for India since 2017.

India off-spinner R Ashwin made an emphatic comeback to the white-ball team as he picked two wickets in the Men in Blue’s recent T20 World Cup 2021 encounter against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi.

Ashwin’s selection in India’s T20 World Cup squad raised many eyebrows as apart from the Indian Premier League and domestic T20 matches, the Tamil Nadu offie had not played in the white-ball formats for India since 2017.

He picked 2/14 in 4 overs against Afghanistan as India registered a 66-run win to keep their hopes of semi-finals qualification alive. During a virtual press conference, Ashwin said that it takes a lot of effort to pick a wicket, and it is not something that can just happen during a cricket match.

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"For a lot of people who are giving expert opinions on the game, I sometimes feel sorry for them. I have been playing this format since 2007-8, and every two years, the game leaves our realms and it teaches us something because the game is so fast-paced. I feel the understanding of the game is still backward in so many ways. For me when you say a bowler has to pick wickets, for fast bowlers there are different plans and for spinners, there are different plans," said Ashwin while replying to ANI during a virtual post-match press conference.

"There are different lengths that you cannot afford to bowl as you do in a Test match. Wicket-taking is not something that just happens. Experts say that the game is about partnerships. Every time a bowler is picking wickets, there is an over that was bowled well before. I think I expect too much from the people who watch the game. This is how I play the game and in the process, if I keep taking wickets, I do that. 24 events are there when I bowl and I take them very seriously," he added.

Ashwin also talked about his reaction to being selected in the India squad for the ICC T20 event and said: "The news I got selected for the World Cup was very heartening news. I had fun after hearing the news in terms of enjoying myself and gratification from what I wanted to achieve in life. That was one side of it, I had a special dream of being there in the World Cup and doing special things for the team."

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"Two losses I did feel a bit low about it. It is never special when you lose games. The chances of qualification did take a dent, but after yesterday's win, we have our fingers crossed and hope things go right. Everything I wanted to execute yesterday fell into place," he added.

Talking further about the art of spin, Ashwin said: "Circles are never completed. They keep going on in loops. The perception of finger spin needs to change. Champions Trophy is an event where I had a halt. I am trying to create different angles. The ball I dismissed Gulbadin Naib was anything but a carom ball. Thinking creates the intent, and then it goes into the practice."

(ANI inputs)