Speaking exclusively on JioCinema, India’s Ravichandran Ashwin spoke about equalling Muttiah Muralitharan’s Player of the Series record: “I’m not comparing myself with him. It’s a great milestone, and I’m pleased. At the end of the day, you’re playing a game you love, and it’s nice to take something away from it. These numbers come as a result of the joy I’m putting into the game. I’m loving my game, and these are just by-products. While I’m glad and pleased, it’s not something that drives me anymore.”
Ashwin gave his take on the team’s mindset after two washed-out days: “We wanted to maximize whatever we could from this game. We knew the importance of every win for the points table, as it could haunt us later in the series. On day four, the instructions were clear: go hard while still maintaining control, which we did. Once we bowled them out, Rohit was clear that we had to attack, even if it meant risking getting all out. He led by example, hitting the first ball for six. From there, it wasn’t about holding back. Our bowlers followed suit, and with our attack, one comes after another. It was a great day, and we finished with a win.”
Ashwin also revealed that the team were considering forfeiting an innings: “Yes, we discussed it. We were considering whether we should forfeit an innings, but the heat was so intense. These are harsh conditions—sweating profusely, I had to change shirts four times in a day, and it still wasn’t enough. It was especially tough on the fast bowlers, and even the spinners found it exhausting. If we got them out for another 200 runs, it would still mean spending five sessions on the field, which would be hard on the batters as well. So, we decided to bat and go after the bowling.”
He also spoke about the team’s plan for the New Zealand series: “It’s tough to start a series thinking you’re going to nail it, especially given the quality of their players. Yes, they lost in Galle, but Galle is a difficult venue for most teams—it’s a fortress for Sri Lanka. We lost there too – you can’t dwell too much on that, but you can focus on what they might bring to the table. They’ve been good in the subcontinent in recent years and even beat Bangladesh. We’ll need to see what their batters bring, and that will be key.”
He spoke about Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid as coaches for Team India: “I was seeing some posts about ‘Gamball’—someone had shared something about it, which was interesting. But look, the coaches are here for the welfare of the team, and I don’t see huge differences in how they approach the game or the passion they have for Indian cricket. Their passion is at the highest level. I mean, they bring an incredible amount of love for that dressing room. I feel a bit sheepish saying this, but I played with Gauti Bhai and Rahul Bhai, and they’ve been my coaches in that dressing room. Their passion for Indian cricket is palpable, and it’s amazing to witness. To have them pass on their knowledge, it’s like having two cricketing geeks to talk cricket with, and I couldn’t be happier or more at ease.”
