Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin once again showed that why is he considered as one of the lynchpins of this young Indian Test team after his 20th five wicket haul helped the hosts to dismiss New Zealand for only 299 runs in the first innings of the final Test at Indore. In reply to India’s mammoth 557, New Zealand openers were going great guns after adding 118 runs for the first wicket but four quick wickets by Ashwin derailed their innings as the threat of a whitewash loom large over them. Talking to the media in the post-match conference, Ashwin talked about his plans throughout the series, the importance of coach Anil Kumble’s inputs, New Zealand’s batting and much more.
Excerpts:
On his performance in the series:
It’s very important for me to get into a good rhythm. Through this series, I have not really started in a fine rhythm. I’m trying to get my alignment and rhythm properly, it’s taking me a few overs. Once I go through it, and when my body starts going completely into the ball, the spells start getting better, and that was one of the spells after lunch. It’s about getting into a good rhythm and being able to accelerate and get through the crease fast. So that’s what I really look forward to and once I get into a good rhythm, I think I can beat any batsman in the world. That’s where I stand right now.
On his success against Kane Williamson:
I come into a series with a plan, especially taking off from where Kane Williamson got out in Bangalore when they came here last year. He lunged forward and got out at slips. So that’s one of the things I thought I would repeat in this series.
On the Indian pacers who went wicketless during the innings:
It (support) was very important, it was a very, very difficult wicket to bowl on. The way Shami and Umesh bowled in the morning, they never let go of the steam. Especially Umesh bowled very quick through the day. Hopefully, they can get some good returns in the second innings.
On why India did not enforce the follow-on:
Because Jaddu and I had bowled almost 30 overs each and so it was very difficult to enforce the follow and so we had to bat. There is more time in the game, so it made sense to bat on.
It’s turning more bowling from the pavilion end, because there’s more rough, because of the left-arm fast bowler’s footmarks. That’s not spinning a lot, hopefully, it will deteriorate.
On the team’s strategy when the New Zealand openers put on a century stand:
Our plan was very simple — not to give the runs, and the more boundaries we cut, the better it would be. We also thought this outfield is very quick, so the boundaries go very fast. That happened in the first session, and Latham and Guptill batted very well. We thought we would try and reduce the run rate and try and create some pressure in terms of maiden overs. That was the plan. Obviously, that was a good spell I got after lunch, I got going and then things changed.
On the importance of Anil Kumble’s inputs:
We have good discussions on cricket, good discussions on what we could be doing for different batsmen. He gives different plans about how we can change up when we go into lunch or tea. If somebody is batting well, he gives you different ideas about what fields you can have, how differently I can throw the ball wide into Tom Latham, for instance, at Eden (Gardens).
It was Anil Kumble’s idea in the tea break. He was the one who asked me to push the lines wider and see how it goes, and it worked. He’s also a person I can go to and talk to and take feedbacks. I enjoy the conversations I have with him.
On New Zealand’s batting:
The wickets (in this series) are far different to those on which South Africa had played on, Nagpur for example. But I would say New Zealand have batted well and they have been more in the game than any other touring team recently.