India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has found a new home in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as he will be seen playing for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the upcoming season of the tournament.
Ashwin had a fruitful Test series against Sri Lanka that saw him breaking Kapil Dev's record in terms of a number of Test wickets. The Tamil Nadu-born cricketer recently went past the World Cup-winning captain's tally of 434 wickets in the cricket's purest format.
Opening up on his momentous achievement, the veteran off-spinner shared how numbers are a part of the "journey" but not the "destination".
"The numbers are great, and it’s humbling really to see what I’ve been able to do in terms of the numbers. The more I’ve played, the more it’s felt like the numbers are a part of the journey rather than the destination. In the past 2-3 years especially, the feeling has been great, with series wins in Australia, the comeback into the T20 team, it almost feels like how I felt when I first broke into the team, wherein a lot has been going on for me," Ashwin said as quoted to ANI.
Ashwin reflected upon his preparations for the IPL and the challenges the world's biggest T20 league brings with itself.
"The IPL is a tough tournament, there are a lot of variables leading into every season which can have an impact. Dew, pitches, the opposition, you name it and there’s a variable that can impact a game in different ways – which makes it a challenge to prepare for things in advance and you’ve got to be ready at all time.
"However, for me, going into an IPL season is always exciting. The IPL gives a window of experimentation, something which has enabled me to come out a richer cricketer, irrespective of the results, every time I’ve been a part of it," he asserted.
The 35-year-old will now don the pink jersey as the Rajasthan Royals have added him to the ranks. Ashwin heaped praises on his current franchise and was confident of getting picked by them after they started bidding for him.
"As soon as I saw Rajasthan Royals bid for me, I just knew they were going to pick me. I’ve known a lot of people here for a long time, people who I talk a lot of cricket with, so yes there is that connection.
"The Royals, for me, are a team that just resonates immediately. For me, they’ve been a different team – always ahead of its time with regards to their planning and approach. They’re very bold and experimental in the way they approach their cricket, which is also the way in which I see my game, so it should be a good synchronization and I’m looking forward to it," Ashwin lauded Rajasthan Royals.
Being a senior pro in the squad, Ashwin talked about his role off the field and how with his experience, he can help the team.
"I feel contribution to a team is far beyond just contributing on the ground. I’ve always been a person who enjoys talking about cricket and has been very open in terms of having a discussion with anyone around the sport. With my experience and communication skills, I’ll try to have discussions with anyone who wants to have a discussion and help to the best of my ability, hopefully making a difference to the squad from within," he opined.
Further, Ashwin had a few words of praise for his skipper at the franchise, Sanju Samson.
"I think Sanju has got an amazing attitude and a good head on his shoulders. He’s always open for discussion, open to opinions around the game, so that’s a great quality to have. I do believe Sanju has got the vantage point as a wicketkeeper to judge the game with all the angles, the pitch and how things are going to work. He also has age on his side, and will definitely get better. I hope he has one blockbuster of a year," Ashwin concluded.