Past perfect, R Ashwin not ready to chase milestones
TAKING STOCK Ahead of his 50th Test at Galle, India’s matchwinning bowler assesses his progress
more better for me to get anywhere in my career, so I’ve always lived that way and it’s kind of changed me over a period of time.
“I do take things in my stride --bad days, ordinary days and mediocre days are a part of a cricketer’s career. It’s important to learn from that and try and get better. I think I’ve become a far better cricketer (compared to 2015). I just hope that if come back again (to the venue), I would be a far better cricketer than what I am today,” said the 30-year-old who has picked up 99 wickets from 17 Tests in the last one year.
Even though Ashwin said experience had taught him not to set goals, the one thing he would like to change was his overseas record. Ashwin attributed his none-too-impressive record overseas to setting benchmarks and getting weighed down. “Playing overseas tours has shown me just how tough Test cricket can be. I set higher benchmarks because I expect a lot out of myself.
“In the first 25 Tests, I went on a difficult tour of Australia, for a finger spinner. Now, I realise it was difficult indeed. The one thing I’ll pride myself on is that the second time I went there I was a far better bowler and put into practice what I learned on the first tour. I think I can hold my head high in that regard. ”
Asked if his equation with Virat Kohli had changed, he said, “It doesn’t mean much to me to be honest. As a cricketer I only want to be excellent, I don’t want to be a survivor. I do think I’m intelligent enough to cope with it.”
He is someone who can have a positive influence in the dressing room. We’re looking forward to producing some amazing results We set ourselves a lot of goals for each other and I would say we have achieved them and come out in flying colours over the last couple of years