R. Ashwin, India’s premier off-spinner, has hailed the team’s current bowling riches and expressed hope that their legacy will inspire future generations of bowlers. “Each of those bowlers that bowl alongside me has the ability to hold on to a game, bowl with discipline, and yet produce wicket-taking balls,” said Ashwin, who clinched a record-equalling 11th Player-of-the-Series award for his all-round effort in the recent Test series against Bangladesh.
Ashwin emphasized that it is not just the bowlers’ individual abilities but also the collective belief of the entire team that has contributed to their success. “When Rohit says that you make 400 to try and make a game out of it, it tells you that the captain believes the bowlers will get the job done,” he said. “These bowlers have done it day in and day out. And they have the ability to pick 20 wickets. The bowling attack is quite special, and I hope that this legacy of bowling is taken forward.”
Explaining how India fashioned their remarkable win in under two days, Ashwin revealed that the aim was to have at least 70 to 80 overs to bowl out Bangladesh again. “When we gathered inside, he mentioned that we would go hammer and tongs and try to make 400 runs in probably 50 overs,” he said. “In that bargain, if we got bowled out of less than 200, it was okay because we made a game of it.”
Ashwin also spoke about the importance of captain Rohit Sharma’s aggressive approach. “When you walk the talk, I think the dressing room has no choice but to follow that pattern,” he said. “We had 50 runs in three overs, and there was no looking back.”
When asked about breaking Muttiah Muralitharan’s record for most Player of the Series awards, the 38-year-old insisted that cherishing memories is more important than records. “I do not have an answer for that. But I would like to do it at a special occasion,” said Ashwin. “Probably if I end up with that, it’s great. But these are not things that motivate me any more, honestly. For me, the love of the game is something that I have harped upon repeatedly. It makes a world of difference for me to enjoy what I do. I am so glad I have gotten here. I would like to retain that happiness.”
