Ravichandran Ashwin Regaining Full Fitness Ahead of South Africa Tests
Ravichandran Ashwin, who missed four one-day internationals in the recent series against South Africa due to a side strain which he sustained in Kanpur, was sorely missed during the Mumbai ODI in which South Africa piled on 438/4.
At the start of the series between India and South Africa, the hosts had only one positive as results went against them. Ravichandran Ashwin was bowling brilliantly and he troubled all the South African batsmen with his guile and spin. More importantly, he had kept AB de Villiers quiet by dismissing him in both the Twenty20 internationals. (AB de Villiers Reckons Ashwin's Absence Was a Big Factor in India's Loss)
However, in the first ODI at Kanpur, Ashwin had bowled brilliantly but in the process of trying to stop a de Villiers drive, he hurt his side and the injury ruled him out of the remaining four ODIs. His skills were sorely missed as India suffered their first home bilateral series loss against South Africa.
However, speaking in a promotional event in Chennai, Ashwin gave Indian fans some much-needed good news when he announced that he was regaining full fitness ahead of the first Test.
When asked whether India's series losses in the T20 series and in the ODI series will affect them in the Tests, Ashwin said he did not like to dwell too much on past results.
"It is not that we played poorly. We fought back brilliantly and levelled the series 2-2. Unfortunately, things didn't go our way in Mumbai," Ashwin stated.
Ashwin added that the true mettle of a batsman comes out when he scores runs in difficult conditions.
"I am not taking away any credit from the batsmen. I believe they have been scoring runs on wickets that have aided batting. Bowlers need to be given wickets that are helpful to them. I want to see batsmen scoring runs on wickets that aid bowlers," Ashwin said.
The first Test begins in Mohali on November 5 and will end on December 7 with the fourth Test in Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla.