Ace Indian off-spinner R Ashwin said that he has begun preparations for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy which will see India and Australia clashing in a four-Test series with a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC 2023) on the line for the hosts.
The spinner will be coming into the series in good form, having played a crucial part in India's win against Bangladesh. Ashwin performed with both bat and ball in the series, something that he has worked upon.
"I have started my training. I have been dreaming (about the series) and I've been doing some yoga. I've been religiously doing yoga over the last year or so. I think it's just helped me feel much better. (As for the skills) I've definitely put in a lot of work on my batting. My batting has really been upscale over the last 18 months or so. I put in a lot of work whenever a home series happens," Ashwin told New Indian Express.
India and Australia will play four Tests- 1st in Nagpur from February 9, the second in Delhi from Feb 17, 3rd in Dharamshala from March 1, and the fourth in Ahmedabad from March 9. The two sides will also play 3 ODIs as well.
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India is expected to be bolstered by the returns of Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja to competitive cricket ahead of the important series.
"I'm expecting (Ravindra) Jadeja to come through (be fit in time) but I like expanding more angles. I got some things in my head. I've been watching Australia play in Australia. I'd like to be working on some different angles, something new," the spinner said.
Asked about the expectations from Australia, Ashwin said that the touring side had done well in the past and expects high-voltage cricket.
"Whenever Australia tour (India), they have always done well, even the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy (2017), in my opinion, was one of the best series that we played. And we also went back there and again managed to retain the trophy. It is always exciting. I don't expect anything less than high-voltage cricket. And I expect a lot of intensity. Australia and England are the best prepared teams that come to India and Australia take it one notch higher. I'm really looking forward to an exciting series," Ashwin concluded.
Notably, Australia was swiftly defeated 2-1 the last time they visited India for the Test series, while India has won two back-to-back Test series in Australia.
(New Indian Express inputs)
