Indian cricketer R Ashwin on Wednesday (1st June) said that he’s at the stage of his career where he doesn’t assess his performance after every game. He said he’s in a very good space and is enjoying his game.
R Ashwin is arguably one of the best spinners India has ever produced. Over the years the ace off-spinner has been the mainstay of the Indian bowling line-up in the longest format of the game and is also the second-fastest bowler in Tests to breach the 400-wicket milestone.
Be it home or away, the senior Indian off-spinner has from time to time delivered for his captain and provided crucial breakthroughs for his team. Ashwin recently surpassed Kapil Dev to become the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 442 wickets to his name, just behind Anil Kumble (619).
He also made a comeback in India’s white-ball set-up and played in the T20 World Cup 2021. Ashwin had a decent campaign in the recently concluded IPL 2022, where he contributed with both bat as well as the ball. He scored 191 runs and took 12 wickets to help his side reach the final.
Speaking to PTI, Ashwin said that he doesn’t assess his performance as he’s in the phase of his life where he is in a good space of mind and is enjoying his game.
“If you want a realistic answer, I am not assessing my performance at all. I am not in that phase of my life where I am thinking about what happened there and what happened here. Like I told you, I am living it by the day.
"The last two years have been hard on a lot of people but it has been very very kind and good to me. So just enjoying my game. I don't know if it is evident enough on the ground or not. I am in totally in a very good space of mind,” R Ashwin said.
Ashwin, who just finished playing IPL, said that he is looking to spend time with his family. He also talked about the playing bilateral series without staying in bubbles, saying that if that happens all the players should be happy about it.
“Honestly, I am pretty blank right now. We have had a long international season so not even thinking about all that in my head. I have been in bubbles forever, have got back home only after five months. It is about time I put the pause button on and live everyday and take it as it comes.
“Absolutely. More than anything else, we need to look at the larger picture. If we are able to get over the pandemic and things are getting back to normal, we all should be happy,” he said.
Ashwin talked about playing through severe back pain in Southampton and Sydney, surviving on prayers, pain killers and "that one per cent luck for every single individual".
“The other game I played the game injured was in Southampton (2018) and it did not go on the right side of the coin for us. Again in Sydney, day four day of the game I had a severe back spasm I was not sure if I could really get through the game but somehow wanted to. I prayed for a bit of of luck, that I had lesser pain the next morning, that the painkillers worked and all of that, I was praying quietly.
"Somehow I got through day four, took a couple of wickets, bowled non-stop spells even though it was hard. Harder than what Southampton (2018 England Test) was but I think a lot of it was destiny as well. One of the those series where there was a lot of effort and that one percent luck for every single individual,” he said
Ashwin further talked about the Test series against Australia in 2020-21, which India won 2-1. He said that it’s one of the best series he has been part of. He said that despite challenges that came their way, they stood tall and won.
“Easily one of the best series, I have been part of. Even now, when you talk about it that feeling comes back, all those good memories, all those difficult phases we faced, the euphoria after the victory, everything stands tall even till now," he concluded.
(PTI inputs)
