Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s numbers this year have been absolutely remarkable. With 52 wickets in eight matches, the 35-year-old is the highest wicket-taker in Tests in 2021. Ashwin portrayed his terrific batting display in recent times as well. Last month, Ashwin went past Harbhajan Singh to become India's third-highest wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket.
Ashwin undoubtedly did enjoy some of his best cricket in recent times but his journey has not been totally smooth. Ashwin was ruled out of last three Tests against Australia during the 2018-19 tour due to an injury. While talking about that period he talked about the mental trauma issues he had to face. Ashwin did not forget to mention a piece of advice that former India skipper MS Dhoni had given him.
“I have never feared failure in my life. So to go out there on the ground and fail in terms of performance, it’s fine. Like MS Dhoni always said, it is processes versus results. I believe I certainly have cracked the process. I don’t fear failing in front of millions or billions of people. It means nothing. At least I have got the [opportunity] to go out there and succeed or fail, which most people don’t get,” Ashwin said in an interaction.
"I was very nervous for about eight months, ten months. Every match I played. Athletic pubalgia is something that you feel all the time, like, there is some feeling around the abdomen, around the adductor or something. So even if it was like a nerve moved here or there or some stiffness, I'd feel like, "Has it gone? Should I protect it before it's gone? Should I strap it?" That sort of paranoia," he added.
No more cricket?
The off-spinner went on to explain that if more injuries struck him during the South Africa series, he might have stopped playing cricket.
"I was 32 - when probably the prime for a spinner is still ahead of him. I was not ready to throw in the towel. And I felt like I was being asked to, through the failings of my body. If I had broken down again during the South Africa series, I would have said, "This body is not meant to be." Thankfully I got through the entire series."
Ashwin is currently preparing for India’s upcoming three-match Test series against South Africa which is scheduled to start on December 26. With players like Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja missing the series due to injuries, Ashwin is going to be team India’s first-choice spinner.
