Nearly two years ago when R. Ashwin strode out to play here at the Galle International Stadium, it was his 26th Test. Those were early days but the off-spinner, like he has done in a significant number of matches, before and after that game, spun a web and had a match-haul of 10 for 160. An effort that turned out to be a wistful remembrance as India suffered a 63-run loss against Sri Lanka.
Cut to the present, much water has flown through the Palk Strait that splits India and Sri Lanka and Ashwin is on the cusp of a personal landmark. The first Test of a three-match series between India and Sri Lanka, commencing here on Wednesday, will be Ashwin’s 50th in white flannels.
He returns to a familiar venue but the surround-sound has changed. His numbers are remarkably healthy — 275 wickets, 25 five-fors, 1903 runs and four centuries. He has clocked 30 summers, remains India’s primary strike bowler especially in sub-continental conditions and is still at a loss to handle the impish streak of his two young daughters!
In a press-conference here on Monday, Ashwin, spoke about the impending milestone and his craft.
Excerpts
Test No. 50: To come back to a place where I did really well last time in 2015 is like a dream come true because it was a momentous occasion for me then. I was on the way back into the Test side, got a six-for on the first day and went on to get a 10-for on the third. I am very grateful to have got here. Every Test is a blessing from here on.
My satisfaction stems from how much I torment the batsmen, how much I hold them on a tight leash
Targets: I won’t be setting any targets. The most important thing is to try and get better every single day because international cricket is very cruel.
Coming back as No. 1 Test team: In 2015, we were sandwiched in the middle of a leadership takeover. Virat (Kohli) had just taken over in Australia and we came here having played one Test in Bangladesh. And we had set ourselves a lot of goals for each other and achieved them over the last couple of years. We have produced a lot of good cricketers, some young cricketers have come in and put their hands up and some others have excelled really.
Evolution within: I am a lot calmer. Back then, I was a bit like a cat on a hot tin roof. I was looking forward to performing desperately because sometimes, like I have said, my performances need to be that much more better for me to get anywhere in my career. I (now) do take things in the stride — bad days, ordinary days and mediocre days. I have become a far better cricketer than what I was when I came here in 2015.
Adelaide heart-break: It might look a little awkward but it doesn’t mean very much (being dropped in the 2014 Adelaide Test) to me to be honest. As a cricketer I only want to be excellent, I don’t want to be a survivor. I don’t like to hold onto things desperately. Equations change and equations remain the same but I think it’s only my attitude towards the game and performance that has changed over the years.
Ashwin the batsman: I do set high benchmarks for myself. I would say that I am pretty low on the kind of average that I would like to have. At one point I started with around 42-43, and today I am at 33. I could have done better.
With tennis elbow issues, it did pull me down as a Test batsman, but yes, the graph is on the way back. I am batting pretty well.
New coach? I really thought it was about my 50th Test. The decision has been made and it is something that I can’t really comment on. Ravi bhai has been a fabulous person to have in the dressing room. Even when he was here last time, he picked us up from that low point of the Galle loss. He can have a positive influence and we are looking forward to working together and producing some amazing results.