England are the only side to taste success in Test series in India in recent times. The last time they were in India in 2012-13, Alastair Cook’s man fought against all odds to win the four-match Test series by 2-1. And one of India’s most important players Ravichandran Ashwin is well aware of the fact that the hosts will have to be at their best if they want to defeat England in the upcoming five-match Test series.
Attending a promotional event, he claimed that England will pose a tougher challenge for the world number one team and said that he will do his ‘homework’ before the series. The bowler has made a habit of targeting the best batsman of the opposition camp, and when he was asked whether he would target Joe Root, he said: ” I am going to be up against a lot of good players in the coming few months. It could be very interesting and I hope that I start off on a good note. England are a very good Test side and it’s not going to be easy to put it past them. I will do my homework and try in ensuring that I stick to good line and length and get my rhythm going.”
The off-spinner has been in sensational form in the last couple of years. He recently became the second quickest to take 200 Test wickets and also became the top-ranked bowler in Tests. Talking about his form he said: “Sometimes when you are doing well, you do not really realize how well you are doing. So, at the moment, I just want to enjoy the phase, not looking too far ahead.”
With India scheduled to play 10 more Tests in the current home season, the Tamil Nadu bowler along with his bowling partner Ravindra Jadeja was rested for the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand.
Commenting on that he said: “I wanted this break as I feel, I need to be fresh for the next Test series. Since last year, I have always maintained that I have been on top of my game. It’s pretty clear from the way the ball’s coming out of my hand.”
The bowler said that he is currently trying to get into the rhythm as quickly as possible in a match.
“I have been trying to analyze my game as to what has gone right and what went wrong. What I have understood is that rhythm is the most important aspect. Throughout the New Zealand series, I was getting into a rhythm a little later into the match. I am still trying to understand the process,” he concluded.