‘If you want a realistic answer, I am not assessing my performance’- R Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin is enjoying his cricket regardless of the format, as seen in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL), where he shone with the bat rather than the ball. India's premier off-spinner in Tests made a comeback to the white-ball set-up last year after being sidelined for several years.

Ashwin is part of a rare breed of cricketers who invest time in understanding and honing their skills with every passing minute. Ashwin used an unwanted covid-break to his advantage and produced a masterclass of bowling against Australia Down Under in 2021.

Speaking about his bowling approach and methodology, the second-highest-wicket-taker in Tests for India mentions that he is not worried much about assessing his performance in every game at this stage in his career.

"If you want a realistic answer, I am not assessing my performance at all. I am not in that phase of my life where I am thinking about what happened there and what happened here. But, as I told you, I am living it by the day.

The last two years have been hard on a lot of people, but it has been very, very kind and good to me. So just enjoying my game. I don't know if it is evident enough on the ground. I am totally in a very good space of mind," the 35-year-old was quoted by NDTV.

Ashwin was rested from India's 5-T20I series against South Africa at home and will next be in action donning the whites against England in July in the Birmingham Test.

Speaking about his break after a stint with Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL, the man from Chennai said, "Honestly, I am pretty blank right now. We have had a long international season, so not even thinking about all that in my head. I have been in bubbles forever, have got back home only after five months. So it is about time I put the pause button on and live everyday and take it as it comes.

Absolutely. More than anything else, we need to look at the larger picture. If we are able to get over the pandemic and things are getting back to normal, we all should be happy."

The all-rounder has taken 442 wickets in 86 Tests, including five hundreds. Recalling India's series win against Australia last year, Ashwin said that such a feat would be impossible to reimagine.

"Easily one of the best series I have been part of. Even now, when you talk about it, that feeling comes back, all those good memories, all those difficult phases we faced, the euphoria after the victory, everything stands tall even till now," the World-Cup winner concluded.