Premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who on Sunday grew to become India’s second most profitable bowler in Test cricket, mentioned it was not simple to get wickets within the first match towards Sri Lanka and he needed to bowl tight for sustained durations.
Playing in his eighty fifth match, the 35-year-old Ashwin went previous the legendary Kapil Dev’s 434 Test scalps after he dismissed Charith Asalanka within the Sri Lanka second innings. India gained the Test by an innings and 222 runs.
Kapil’s 434 wickets had come from 131 matches. The legendary Anil Kumble tops the chart with 619 scalps which he claimed in 132 matches.
“The floor was a very good one, it was not simple to get batters out after they had been defending. You needed to bowl tight for sustained durations,” Ashiwn said after the match which ended inside three days.
“I think Shami and Jasprit created pressure from the end where it wasn’t turning much.”
Ashwin lauded Ravindra Jadeja’s match-winning effort, saying the spin all-rounder, who made 175 not out in India’s lone innings and took 9 wickets within the match, has come a good distance in his batting.
“I feel he has actually come a good distance within the final four-five years. The quantity he’s batting is a bit low in my view. His batting has gone one notch greater. He is aware of what he’s doing and it displays in the best way he’s batting,” Ashwin said.
“In between, we both realised that Jayant hasn’t bowled a lot and someone who is going to be the third spinner, Rohit also gave him a few overs. Sometimes it’s not that easy being the third spinner in the side and it’s important to look after.
“Jaddu was magnanimous in giving the ball away. Sometimes I get ahead of myself with the bat but I have worked on things was looking to take one ball at a time.”
Ashwin took six wickets within the match, giving freely 96 runs.
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