"He used to kick me out of the house and ask me to play" - Ravichandran Ashwin acknowledges father's role in his development as a cricketer
Veteran Team India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has acknowledged his father's role in his development as a cricketer. The 38-year-old recalled that his father used to kick him out of the house to play, but added that he now embraces the cricketer's presence at home.
Ashwin was the Player of the Match as India beat Bangladesh by 280 runs in the first Test which ended on Day 4 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday, September 22. Playing in his home ground, the Tamil Nadu cricketer scored 113 in India's first innings and picked up six Bangladesh wickets in the second innings.
Speaking after Team India triumph, Ashwin recalled how his father used to encourage him to go out and play. He commented (as quoted by ANI):
“My father has taken a step back. In fact, he likes me being a home a lot more these days - he used to kick me out of the house and ask me to play, now he embraces me at home. For me it’s about enjoying the game now, the reasons I play the game has changed over the last 5 years, quite an influence my wife has had on me."
Put into bat after losing the toss on Day 1, India were in trouble at 144-6. However, Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja (86) combined to add 199 for the seventh wicket. The hosts ended up posting 376 in their first innings. The former went wicketless in Bangladesh's first innings, but starred with 6-88 in the second as Bangladesh were all out for 234 in a chase of 515.
"I came in to replace Harbhajan" - Ashwin reflects on his Test journey
Following the first Test against Bangladesh, Ashwin now has 522 wickets from 101 matches at an average of 23.70. The 38-year-old picked up his 37th five-fer on Sunday and has also claimed 10 wickets in a Test eight times. Reflecting on his Test journey, the off-spinner recalled how he came into replace Harbhajan Singh and also how a lot of people doubted his ability.
"I can't really comment on what sort of impact I have had on this Test match. I had huge shoes to fill, I came in to replace Harbhajan, I used to replicate his action in junior cricket, he was an inspiration to me. Constantly people have doubted if I could deliver in red-ball as I came from IPL, lots of people have come and helped me," the veteran cricketer said after the game.
With his 37th five-wicket haul on Sunday, Ashwin equaled Shane Warne's tally in Test matches. Only Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (67) has claimed more five-fers in Test cricket.