India's spin wizard Ravichandran Ashwin has built his illustrious career by constantly reinventing himself and outfoxing batters with his ever-evolving arsenal. Over 13 years since his debut, Ashwin remains a crucial cog in India's Test cricket machinery, standing tall as the country's second-highest Test wicket-taker.
While not considered the most agile fielder, Ashwin has always demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving his fielding skills. At the age of 37, he has defied expectations, significantly reducing the time it takes him to reach the ball, go down, and collect it.
Ashwin's dedication to fitness and fielding has been widely recognised by his former coaches. Shankar Basu, India's strength and conditioning coach, and R Sridhar, India's fielding coach, have both praised his work ethic and commitment to self-improvement.
In a recent conversation with former India women's coach WV Raman, Ashwin revealed the sacrifices and relentless effort he has put in to meet the demands of modern-day cricket.
"I would say it is one of the easiest sacrifices I have made in my life. I have worked hard on my fitness but I would never hold it against me or never give it as an excuse. The reason I say that is because the game is something that I love so much. And if you love something so much, anything that comes along with it that you have to do to stay relevant is just a natural extension," Ashwin told Sportstar.
Despite boasting an impressive tally of 489 Test wickets and numerous bowling records, Ravichandran Ashwin has always placed the team's needs above his own. Throughout his career, he has faced numerous instances of being omitted from crucial matches due to team composition demands, a fate perhaps no other cricketer has endured to the same extent. Yet, despite these challenges, Ashwin has remained steadfast and carved a unique and valuable identity for himself in the Indian cricket team.
While his fitness levels may not match those of some of his teammates, such as Virat Kohli, Ashwin has consistently overcome any perceived limitations and proven his worth, particularly in home Test matches.
"I have sacrificed my food, I have sacrificed my lifestyle, I train doubly harder and yet I could never be a Virat Kohli. And that is something I've made peace with, because that is his journey and this is my journey. For me, not being naturally athletic is something that stuck as a tag with me all through my life but it's never stopped me from working hard on it and stay relevant. For me, staying relevant, to be able to put myself on the ground and exhibit my skill has been at the forefront. I have never really seen it as a sacrifice. Instead, it's been an absolute journey of pleasure and joy," he added.
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