Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently returned to the Test cricket and impressed with his improved performances. The 33-year-old still believes that he can make a comeback in the limited-overs squads for the national team.
Talking about his snub from the Indian limited-overs sides, Ravichandran Ashwin has blamed his injuries. Even he also faced exclusion from the Test squad. Recently, during the South Africa tour of India, Ashwin made his Test return and impressed with his quality performances. While in the past he was depressed due to the injuries, Ashwin has also clarified that he is now enjoying the game.
Ashwin told Mumbai Mirror, “Whatever I achieved I never expected when I started playing. I enjoy playing day in, day out. But I felt somewhere in my career, because of the white ball snub and injuries, I had lost the joy of playing the game, which was very very dangerous for me. I could not watch the game on TV. That was something I did not enjoy.
“Thankfully I have gotten over it. I took the help of people and I have gotten over it. I am extremely happy, wherever there is a game and an opportunity to deliver, even for a club game, I would go with full commitment and willingness. If I keep my joy intact, there is no limit to what I can achieve.”
If you look at my T20 numbers and ODI number, they are no mean achievements – Ravichandran Ashwin
Since his international debut in June 2010, Ravichandran Ashwin has played 70 Tests, 111 ODIs and 46 T20Is where the off-spinner has bagged 362, 150 and 52 wickets respectively. He hasn’t represented the national team in limited-overs cricket since July 2017.
The progress of the wrist-spinners, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav, has decreased the importance of Ravichandran Ashwin in India’s limited-overs side. The injuries and off-form are the other reasons for Ashwin’s absence in the limited-overs formats in international cricket.
However, the off-spinner still believes that he can make another return to the national squad in limited-overs formats.
Ashwin added, “I do want to represent India, I have been doing it over the years, successfully at it. If you look at my T20 numbers and ODI number, they are no mean achievements. The hopes are still alive, but I take different approach from others. I don’t go and say I want to play, I don’t give interview… Mine is more towards the action. In my last one and half and two years, my career has been hampered by injuries. For me it is putting things right and getting my body ready. Because I know I am good. So, it is only a matter of time before anything came my way.”
“I traveled a journey ever since, a journey of not being able to represent the country, a journey of being snubbed or not being picked. It is no mean task, you have to deal with it personally. You then have to answer to people who are asking you questions. At the same time, you have to keep your dreams alive. It is not easy. That journey has been quite challenging. I have learnt to live and deal with it.”
After leading the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in the last two seasons of Indian Premier League (IPL), Ravichandran Ashwin is now focusing to perform well for his new IPL side Delhi Capitals (DC).