He is mostly on the road representing the country at the highest level but even when he is not, cricket and R Ashwin are inseparable. When he is not playing for India, he would turn up for a local club game in Tamil Nadu or represent his franchise in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). When he is not playing any cricket, he would follow any cricket on television and post about it. And when he is not watching, he would keep everyone engaged with his YouTube channel.
Cricket remains a common denominator and it’s not something which has happened overnight. Right from his formative years, Ashwin would play non-stop and his obsession with the game only grew. Sunil Subramaniam, the offie’s childhood coach, recalls he had played 2000 matches before even getting a break for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy.
ICC World Cup : Schedule | Results | Points Table | Most Runs | Most Wickets
“By the time Ashwin was called for (the) Ranji Trophy, he had already played 2000 matches. He would play day and night, and continue doing for as long as he could. He keeps playing cricket. Even now, he has been busy playing T20 cricket in TNPL and plays wherever and whenever he gets a chance,” says Subramaniam.
For the coach, there was never a question of ‘how’ will he make it big at the highest level. It was always about ‘when’ because Subramaniam was convinced that whenever the opportunity would come his ward’s way, he was going to make it big.
“When I met him for the first time, I knew he had the skills and cricketing mind beyond his years. There is also an element of luck for a cricketer where you get the right break at the right time in a country like India. That was the only thing which was weighing on my mind. This came from my own experience because at one point I was the best left-arm spinner in the country but never even got a chance to represent India. In a country as huge as India, it’s difficult to get in but difficult to get out once you get in. So that was my only concern with regards to Ashwin. Not only cricket, stars have to align in your favour to get a break.
“I can give you umpteenth examples of skilled batters and bowlers who didn’t make it to the next level because skill is just one part of the game. But I knew once he got the break, I knew it would be something big,” says Subramaniam.
‘Mentally the toughest… ‘
Since making his debut across formats more than a decade ago, Ashwin’s career has experienced fair share of ups and downs but steely resolve has allowed him to come out of every tough situation. From getting overlooked in important matches to dropping off the radar in white-ball formats to the period where he picked up injuries, it hasn’t been a smooth sail. But for the coach, who also served as manager of the Indian cricket team from 2017 to 2019, Ashwin is “mentally the toughest international cricketer going around, even tougher than Virat Kohli”.
“I have seen many cricketers, dealt with them and feel Ashwin is mentally the toughest international cricketer going around, even tougher than Virat Kohli. And my assessment is based on what I have been seeing 2011 onwards. Virat had to come out of the slump he had and I have observed him closely and Ashwin obviously from his formative years. These two guys are not your normal cricketers. You rarely come across people of this level of mental toughness and intelligence.
“The difference though is the demand of the body for a bowler. It is far higher than a batter. I know the work ethic which Virat has put in with regards to strength and conditioning but at the end of the day he is a batter not a bowler. It’s a far easier physical job. Now for somebody like Ashwin to have gone through those injuries and then to be overlooked. Those were soul crushing moments but there was no choice as the team combination demanded that. For a world class spinner to sit out of important games and still be humble enough to be available for the country, this says a lot about him. He is the toughest. If at all there was any doubt, there is no doubt now,” says Subramaniam.
Where are the offies?
Ashwin didn’t feature in ODI plans since that 2017 Champions Trophy final loss as the management went heavy on wrist spin. Both Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal became spin mainstays during that period and Ashwin got only two opportunities in the last six years, before getting another two in the recent ODIs vs Australia. Subramaniam feels management’s move of looking ahead of Jadeja and Ashwin during that period was due to multiple reasons – the rule changes, no penetration in middle overs and inability to stem the flow of runs.
“I know why he hasn’t been picked in the last few years. I was the manager of the Indian cricket team and it happened in front of me. I know exactly what the base behind this is. Till the 2017 Champions Trophy, we were looking at Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to pick wickets in the middle overs. If not wickets then at least keep the run flow down. But that was the phase when two new balls came in and it so transpired that neither were they getting wickets nor were they keeping runs down. Hence Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli got this formula of two wrist spinners so we had Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav playing,” says Subramaniam.
The heat during that period was not just felt by Ashwin. Across the circuit, the off-spinners fell off the radar.
“Look at the off-spinners going around in world cricket. Kitne hai? The way rules have changed and having two new balls and the penalty of an extra fielder in the ring there are only three off-spinners left in the shorter version of the game. Moeen Ali, R Ashwin and Mohammed Nabi are the three names which come to mind. Nabi doesn’t play cricket. World class spinners like Nathan Lyon have been wiped out of the game. When you pick a player, say like Ashwin, for a particular format and need, it’s important to look at the overall games he has played. Not necessarily in the format he has been called for,” adds Subramaniam.
The temperament and preparations
For coach Subramaniam, who is now associated with MSK Prasad’s academies in Seattle and Hyderabad, what stood out during that period was Ashwin’s temperament and how he would continue preparations.
“When all this was happening, this didn’t stop Ashwin to play domestic cricket and try hand at country cricket too. So it is not something which is going to challenge his temperament. He needed those games (ODIs vs Australia) to get into the team’s plans. With Ashwin it was just seeing how he fared and featured in the team’s plans. He has played enough cricket to be ready at all times,” says Subramaniam.
The preparations have been in full swing for Ashwin ever since the literal call up by Rohit Sharma. From checking in at the NCA to playing a local club game before joining the squad for Australia series, Ashwin has continued to check all preparation boxes and is only getting intense as match-day approaches. From non-stop hours with the ball to range hitting with the bat, the work he is putting in the nets is an inspiration for youngsters.
For now, Ashwin would be focusing on putting his best foot forward, if the likely opportunity comes his way, at the very ground which has witnessed his numerous memorable performances across formats and could well help him add a glorious chapter to his already glittering career.
Comments
0 comment