Fresh off a successful Test series against Sri Lanka, Ravichandran Ashwin has joined up with his new franchise, Rajasthan Royals, and is rearing to go ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Having picked up 12 wickets at an average of only 15.08, the off-spinner played an important role in securing another home-series win for the Indian team. The series against Sri Lanka also saw him surpass India’s World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev to become India’s 2nd highest wicket-taker and the eighth-highest overall in the history of Test cricket, with a tally of 442 scalps as it stands.
Reflecting on the incredible feat, Ashwin said, “The numbers are great, and it’s humbling really to see what I’ve been able to do in terms of the numbers. The more I’ve played, the more it’s felt like the numbers are a part of the journey rather than the destination. In the past 2-3 years especially, the feeling has been great, with series wins in Australia, the comeback into the T20 team, it almost feels like how I felt when I first broke into the team, wherein a lot has been going on for me.”
Sharing his thoughts on the IPL and what the competition means for him, the Tamil Nadu spinner said, “The IPL is a tough tournament, there are a lot of variables leading into every season which can have an impact. Dew, pitches, the opposition, you name it and there’s a variable that can impact a game in different ways – which makes it a challenge to prepare for things in advance and you’ve got to be ready at all times.”
“However, for me, personally, going into an IPL season is always exciting. The IPL gives a window of experimentation, something which has enabled me to come out a richer cricketer, irrespective of the results, every time I’ve been a part of it,” he added.
