India's spin maestro Ravichandran Ashwin currently holds the top position in the ICC's Test bowler rankings. Proving his mettle in the longer format of the game, Ashwin has snared 489 wickets in 94 Tests, maintaining an impressive average of 23.65. His record boasts 34 five wicket hauls and eight ten-fers.
More than just a legendary bowler, Ashwin possesses a remarkable strategic mindset. He excels in outthinking batters, employing various mental tactics that often lead to their dismissal. Given his vast experience and spin wizardry, Ashwin was included in India's ODI World Cup 2023 squad. His next assignment will be upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa where India will aim to clinch their first Test series victory on South African soil.
Looking ahead to the series which is set to start from December 26, Ashwin is particularly keen on bowling against South African batters like Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram. Sharing insights on his YouTube channel, Ashwin revealed his preparations for the South Africa Test series, including envisioning bowling to Markram and Bavuma during intra-squad practice matches in the lead-up to the Boxing Day Test match.
“When it comes to right-handers, I have to imagine bowling to Markram or Bavuma on the crease. It is immaterial how I bowl to Shubman Gill or Shreyas Iyer. So, angling in, a quick one on the straighter lengths. A slower length outside off to Shreyas for him to defend. And a little faster ball later to gauge what shot they are playing and to check if they able to catch the drift. I’ve bowled a lot on the old ball now. That is better than bowling with the new ball,” Ashwin said.
“Practice matches are very crucial in any visiting tour when it comes to a bowler. I decide on the lines that I bowl, I gauge my shoulder rotation, and I plan for the left-hander. I bowled my first ball to Yashashvi Jaiswal. My first intention would be to keep the ball in play on the stump line. Because there is a chance of the moisture of the pitch rubbing off on the ball, the batter won’t know if the ball is turning or coming straight to him. So there’s a chance of a catch on the short leg,” he further added.
During his last tour of South Africa, Ashwin's performance was somewhat subdued, as he secured only three wickets in three matches, a tally that falls short of his usual standards. The esteemed Indian spinner is on the cusp of a significant milestone, being just 11 wickets shy of reaching the 500-wicket mark in Test cricket. If he manages to achieve that milestone, he will become only the second Indian bowler, following Anil Kumble, to accomplish this feat.
The series opener is scheduled to take place at SuperSport Park in Centurion on December 26. Although the Indian team managed a victory at this ground during their last visit, they subsequently lost the following two matches and the series. This time, under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, the Indian team is aiming to end their series winning drought on the South African soil.
Here's India's squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wk)
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