R Ashwin revealed that he has stopped worrying about competing with Ravindra Jadeja for the all-rounder’s spot in the Indian team whenever an overseas tour outside Asia happens. India will be touring Australia later this year for a five-Test series starting November 22.
Both Ashwin and Jadeja delivered superb all-round performances in India's recent 2-0 Test series victory over Bangladesh, and Ashwin expects more of the same when they face Australia in November.
R Ashwin was Player of the Tournament for his 114 runs and 11 wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja hastened the end of the Bangladeshi innings on day five of the second Test in Kanpur. Jadeja had also played a brilliant knock of 86 to complement Ashwin’s century in the first Test in Chennai.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ashwin downplayed any concept of a rivalry between him and Jadeja, expressing confidence in Jadeja's potential to excel if chosen for the Australia tour.
"It's very simple for me. If he plays, I'll back him all day, all night. I have to. I have repeated this again and again. It doesn't cross my head anymore at all (competing with Jadeja). If he is the one that has to play, he is the one that has to play, and I have complete faith, and I've got his back when he goes out there to play," Ashwin said on JioCinema.
"Like I said, going to another country, especially a country like Australia or England, and your team putting in an extraordinary performance and us winning a test match makes it incredible, makes me an incredibly proud Indian," Ashwin added.
Ravindra Jadeja completed 300 wickets and 3000 runs double during the Bangladesh Test series, becoming only the second Indian to do so after Kapil Dev. Ashwin highlighted that this milestone underscores Jadeja’s brilliance in the longest format of the game, calling it a testament to his all-round abilities.
"He's the second left-arm spinner to get 300 wickets. I think he's got 3000 runs. These are no mean achievements, right? It's just that sometimes when you miss out, you feel you're missing out and nobody likes missing out. But the fact of the matter is, India is blessed to have two bowlers who can play in the same spot and are good enough," Ashwin added.
When it comes to overseas Tests against SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia), Ashwin has been given a somewhat higher priority than Jadeja. Ashwin has played 25 Tests against these teams, while Jadeja has been in 21.
Ashwin has 2795 runs and 71 wickets from 25 matches, while Jadeja has 1936 runs and 52 wickets. Even in the final Border-Gavaskar series against Australia in 2020, Ashwin finished as the fourth-highest wicket-taker with 12 wickets, while Jadeja took 7.
(ANI inputs)
