Ashwin spins a different tale

IF Harbhajan Singh hadn’t suffered an injury in Australia during the 2002 tour, Anil Kumble might not even have found a second wind. Harbhajan’s absence meant Kumble not only found his place back in the XI; by the end of the tour he had re-established his stature as the side’s lead spinner.

- VENKATA KRISHNA B

Eighteen years later, Ravichandran Ashwin may have found his second wind. Had Ravindra Jadeja been fit for the beginning of the Australia Test series, India would have played the southpaw ahead of the off-spinner for the opening Test. Instead, Jadeja’s hamstring injury meant the door opened for Ashwin. Since then, he has been on a roll. It led to even captain Virat Kohli revealing that Ashwin hasn’t been this confident ever.

That confidence is perhaps a reflection of his persona now. He is at peace with what he has done so far. He doesn’t let outsiders influence his thoughts and he doesn’t take the field to prove anything to anyone. There was a period where he did all of these. It was in this period when he would take criticisms to heart, it used to hurt him. However, since the pandemic, something has changed.