Shamik Chakrabarty in Chennai
After equalling Shane Warne, Ravichandran Ashwin spoke about his Chepauk swansong.
On Sunday, as India wrapped up Bangladesh’s second innings for 234 to win the first Test here in Chennai by 280 runs, Ashwin matched Warne’s tally of 37 five-fors in an innings. This is jointly the second-most among the spinners, with Muttiah Muralitharan towering over the rest with 67. The Indian great took 6/88 in Bangladesh’s second innings.
Unlike England or Australia, India doesn’t have just five or six fixed Test centres. Caught in the quagmire of rotation, traditional Test venues don’t get matches regularly. Chepauk, one of the traditional Test centres in the country, had hosted England three years ago. It’s not known when its turn will come again after hosting this Test against Bangladesh.
Ashwin is 38 years old and in the twilight of his glorious career. But he is going strong, scoring match-winning hundreds and taking fifers. Father Time, though, catches up with everyone. From that perspective, Ashwin’s return to Chepauk for a Test remains uncertain.
Somehow, this Test had a farewell feel. Ashwin’s entire family was present on the final day. And the player himself did some recollection and went back to a time when he used to watch games here from the ‘D’ stand.
“Maybe, maybe not. Who knows,” Ashwin replied to the Chepauk-swansong question at the post-match press conference. “Like I said, every day, every Test match I’m playing is a big thing. Not only for me; you can ask any cricketer. To go through a Test match or a Test series is a grind, and you never really know what is next when it comes to Test matches.”
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Ashwin made his Test debut in 2011. Thirteen years and 101 matches later, he is still pursuing excellence. He is not shy of putting in effort. He is still enjoying his routine. “Because you put in that effort, everything, and then you need to be lucky enough to get those performances, also work hard and simultaneously manage your ups and downs,” he said. “These are all huge challenges for any Test cricketer.”
If this game turns out to be Ashwin’s Chepauk farewell in Test cricket, then he will have happy memories. “I haven’t thought so far ahead but if that was my swansong, what a swansong!”
But how does Ashwin consistently reinvent himself? Also, on the wrong side of 30, what’s the secret of his fitness? The master off-spinner admitted that it’s been a challenge. “It’s not the same, like when you play at 25, 26, 30 or even 35,” he said. “Thirty-eight is different to 35. Every bit of work that you put in, you have to put in doubly hard to earn the right to be there. No doubt, there are challenges for me to go through. Usually, it takes a little bit longer. You know, I haven’t played a three-day game in a while also.”
He then turned a tad philosophical. “I just wanted to enjoy my game, be the best that I can be, seek excellence,” he said. “I’m not ambitious at this point of time. I love my game. I want to play as long as I can. Whatever I am today is because of the game and what it has given me. So, I’m deeply indebted to that.”
The Ashwin story, however, has a touch of irony. We will probably never know how effective he can be on a fifth-day pitch at The Oval or Adelaide Oval. In 13 years, he has played just 25 Tests in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) countries. India’s preferred 4-1 (four pacers and a spinner) combination in those nations has restricted Ashwin’s game time on the road, at times unfairly, like during the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia.
At home, however, it’s a different ball game. No wonder Rohit Sharma tipped his hat to his teammate. “He (Ashwin) is always there for us over the years,” the India captain told the official broadcaster. “I don’t know if I speak here, it will be enough to cover what he does for the team. He looks like he is never out of the game.”
The local boy was the star of the show, holding aloft the Player of the Match trophy and collecting applause from the fans. Ashwin now has 522 Test wickets. Anil Kumble’s tally of 619 scalps doesn’t look a bridge too far.
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