Follow UsR Ashwin exists in a weird duality. On the one hand, he tops the rank list when it comes to Test bowlers. On the other hand, he gets dropped in overseas conditions way too often. The most recent instance being the all important WTC Final. Not that he’s complaining. He answered critics the best way possible, by giving the ball as vicious a rip as possible.
Playing in Dominica for the first time, it didn’t take the wily offspinner too long to make his mark. He grabbed a five-for, his 33rd overall and 5th against West Indies, to help India bundle the West Indies out for just 150. The milestone also made him just 2nd bowler in Test history to take five or more five-fors against a single opponent, joining the legend Muttiah Muralitharan (9) in an exclusive list.
In the process, he became the first Indian to dismiss a father-son pair in Tests. His dismissals included openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul and the highest run-scorer of the innings Alick Athanaze.
But, Ashwin was quick to say that it won’t take him too long to forget and move on to the next innings. The ability to do that is what has helped him survive at the highest level of cricket for so long. He's no newbie to breaking records, as he became just the third Indian to take 700 international wickets. Anil Kumble (953) and Harbhajan Singh (707) being the others.
“There was some bounce from the wicket, especially from the pavilion end. The wicket had some slope also which gave us bounce. But we utilized the first session very well. The wicket had some moisture and it was coming off very well. As you saw, they showed a graphic that it was turning more [in the second session], but the turn was very slow. But in the first session, there was bounce, and pace off was good, there was bite. We utilised it very well. The way [Jermaine] Blackwood got out just before Lunch, the momentum shifted completely to us. I also thought, Jaiswal and Rohit batted very well to give us a very dominant day on Day 1,” Ashwin said at the innings break.
“In fact the best thing that'll happen today after this good day that I've had is that I'll have a good meal, have a good conversation, talk to my family and go to bed and then forget about it. When you've had a good day, you know you've had a good day but there are areas you can work on and get better for tomorrow. This constant search for excellence has held me in good stead all the time, but it's also been incredibly draining. It's not a journey that's been very easy. For me, the journey has been draining, but I'm very thankful for all the lows because without the lows there are no highs.”
Talking about the rigors of international cricket and the toll it takes on an individual, he admitted that it doesn’t get easy. Especially when it’s as big an occasion as a WTC Final. That however doesn’t deter Ash, as he’s affectionately called, from being just as upbeat about the next game. Something he’s cultivated over the years.
“There is no cricketer or human being in this world that has gone through the highs without the lows. When you have the lows, it gives you two choices, either you sulk or talk about it and then complain about it and go along with it and go down. Or you learn from it. So I'm someone who's constantly learnt from my lows.
“I've spoken about it. It's very tough as a cricketer when you have a WTC final and end up sitting out. All that is fine. But what is the difference between me and another person if I also end up sulking in the dressing room. When we went to the WTC final, I was mentally prepared to play. I had prepared physically and mentally, planned for the game, everything. But, I was also prepared to not play the game.”
At 36, it would be fair to say that he’s at the fag end of his career. Which is why, he feels that now is the time to also share what he’s learnt with his junior colleagues, despite them directly competing with him for a spot in the XI.
“If I'm not playing, how do I respond? How do I make sure the dressing room is really up and about. Winning the WTC final is the most important thing, it could be a very high point in my career and I would have played a good role in it. It was just unfortunate, it didn't pan out. The first day just left us too much behind in the shed. All I'd like to give to my teammates and Indian cricket as a whole is some understanding and my best efforts on the field and I'd like to leave it at that.
“Actually when I look back at my career, I wonder how it's gone by so fast. It's been literally 14 years on the go and if you include IPL also, it's been almost a 15-16 years journey. It's just gone like that. All I would tell anybody is that the first time I met Rahul Dravid as a coach, he made this statement: 'It's not about how many wickets you take, how many runs you score. You'll forget about all of them. It is only the great memories you create as a team that'll stick with you,” he added.