‘Indian cricket is the highest prerogative’- Ravichandran Ashwin after being back in the ODI squad

Ravichandran Ashwin recently got candid on the Indian Cricket Board’s official interviewing channel and talked about how being back in the ODI squad has affected him. Notably, Ravichandran Ashwin has been invited back to the ODI squad for Australia’s tour of India. Ashwin is playing an ODI match for India after January 2022 on 22 September, in Mohali.

The 37-year-old off-spinner is also speculated to participate in the ODI World Cup, which will be hosted by India, if Axar Patel is considered unfit for the tournament.  Ahead of playing his first ODI match of the year Ravichandran Ashwin talked about how the Indian cricket team has always been close to his heart, even though he has not always gone on record to talk about it, openly. 

Ravichandran Ashwin on being back in the ODI squad for India 

“For me, Indian cricket is the highest prerogative. To put my best foot forward and be in a state of contribution and obviously put myself in a situation, where I can turn the game on this head, that’s every cricketer’s dream, so push comes to shove when the game starts. For me, Indian cricket is very close to my heart. I am not a man of tattoos, but the tattoo is well inside by heart,” said Ravichandran Ashwin. 

“Whatever it is, I am going to be with the team, not with the team, wherever it is, I will be playing with good vibes, watching with good vibes. If at all I get a chance to contribute and play, I’ll be happy to do that. It’s a great opportunity for me, like I have always said over the last three-four years. It’s not about what I want to achieve in these opportunities. I want to enjoy myself and give myself the best chance to enjoy it,” he said. 

“In general, I have kept expectations largely from myself. If you have to deal with expectations one has about themselves in terms of the pride I hold on my performance, the pride I want to hold on with respect to my practice, not leaving any stone unturned. But whereas you have expectations from things that you can’t control, it’s always going to leave you with a bit of disappointment because it’s not in your hands”. 

“Something different from my perspective. I have been working on some angles. One day is not just about spin anymore. It’s the angles that you can present at the crease – the depth of the crease, usage of that. I am trying to put myself in a zone of discomfort to try and push barriers,” added Ravichandran Ashwin.