‘Amazing to have Ravi in the dressing room’

With Ravi Shastri ensconced in the chief coach’s seat, India’s leading spinner R Ashwin recalled how the former India all-rounder had the ability to lift the team from any setback.

The last time India played at Galle in 2015, they lost the first Test from an impregnable position, leaving the players shellshocked from the blow.

But Ashwin, who took a 10-for in that match, said Shastri helped the team put the disappointment behind and rallied his troops to win the next two Tests, and win India’s first series in the island for 22 years.

“We are well past that moment (of coach selection). The decision has been made and the decision is definitely something I can’t comment on.

“Ravi has been a fabulous person to have in the dressing room. Even when he was here last time, we lost that Test in Galle and really picked ourselves up from that low point in our careers.

“And he is someone who can really have a positive influence in the dressing room. We’re looking forward to working together and producing some amazing results,” said Ashwin.

From the defeat here in 2015 to the No 1 ranked side in the world, India have grown into a formidable unit and Ashwin revealed how they got to the top.

“In 2015, we were sandwiched in the middle of a leadership takeover. Virat (Kohli) had just taken over in Australia and we came here having played one Test in Bangladesh.

“And we had 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 as a group,” said the ace spinner.

Pointing out the strong comebacks of players like him, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja, he said the competition for a spot was very strong. “Sometimes, I feel even good cricketers lose out in this team because of the quality we have in the dressing room.”

Breaking into the Indian team is difficult, but it is harder to hold the place.

“If you look at the teams around the world, they do get an extended run. Youngsters do get to play a few more games than they get to play in India. That’s because of the kind of team we’ve put on the park.

“We do have some excellent cricketers sitting outside as well. It is a lot of pressure but sustaining or holding on to a position is not something that will go well with an excellent side.

“That’s how I’d like to put it, and this Indian team is quite an excellent side, we all know that. I would say these 50 Tests have put me in a better stead probably going forward. I don’t know how many I have.”