Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has admitted that the test against South Africa in 2013 has turned his test career around.
The test he was talking about was the first of the two match test series against South Africa where the hosts has almost pulled off the world record chase against India after fine knocks from AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis. Ashwin has received a lot of criticism for his bowling in that test and that helped his desire to raise his standards as a bowler, he revealed.
“The criticism that came out of that game got the better of me,” the 30-year-old told Wisden India. “It told me that I wasn’t good enough and that I needed to improve. It made me raise my standards.”
The Proteas were given a massive target of 458 as India declared after tea on day 4. However, AB de Villiers and du Plessis has taken the charge to the Indian bowlers as they fell short of just eight runs at the end of the match as it thrilling test ended in a draw.
Ashwin has bowled 36 overs in the innings but failed to pick up a wicket and was eventually dropped from the second test.
“I had seen an article … where (it was) said that an all-time great (de Villiers) and a modern-day great (du Plessis) had denied India.
“Yes, that’s true, but I want to be bigger than both of them. If I want that, I have to beat them in that battle. But I couldn’t. So I needed to get better and push ahead.”
The off-spinner has come back strongly into the longer format again and has managed to become the most valuable player in the world in the format as he has managed four test centuries in the last two and half years coupled with 99 wickets at an impressive average of 21.68.
“I want to be the match-winner every time I play,” he said. “Whether I bat or bowl, that doesn’t change. I don’t think like I’m an off-spinner. I think I can beat anything – beat the conditions, beat the batsmen.
“That comes from the fact that I want to be excellent rather than look towards short-term goals. I want to do more because I want to be the match-winner, not to prove a point to anyone.”
“My goal is to pick up at least five wickets every Test. That’s what the greats have done, be it a Shane Warne or an Anil Kumble.”