Karan114 Posted April 23, 2011 Posted April 23, 2011 Ashwin: Bhajji is a great, I'm starting out Sanjeev K Samyal IN NO HURRY Ashwin is happy to wait in the wings, professional rivalry doesn't ***** him. All he wants is to be ready when the opportunity comes. It can get tough for a player born in the same era as a great in his chosen discipline. For every Shane Warne, there's a Stuart McGill, for every Bishan Singh Bedi, there's a Rajinder Goel or a Padmakar Shivalkar. It's tough being an off-spinner in India right now as he's to compete with Harbhajan Singh. R Ashwin faces the same situation, but the Tamil Nadu off-spinner isn't complaining. He's ready to wait for his chance, like in the World Cup. “Probably if I were born three or four years later, I would have been luckier,“ says Ashwin. Excerpts from an exclusive chat: How has the World Cup been or your career? It's been a dream come true for me. I saw the 1992 and 1996 World Cups as a kid. Since then, I had always wanted to wear the Indian jersey and play in a World Cup. I never thought it would happen so soon. I hope I played a part in India winning the World Cup. Yes, I think I did. Which WC moments you cherish the most? When I was picked for the games I played and was asked to bowl with the new ball. Even if it's a double-edged sword, it's these moments you take confidence from. The magic moment came when I dismissed Shane Watson. It cleared a big obstacle from India's path to victory. It's these things that lift your confidence. How did it feel when you were not picked for the next match after playing a key role against Australia? There are several instances when Cesc Fabregas has scored a goal but hasn't played the next match. It's sad we don't have a medium pace allrounder, and hence playing two spinners is a luxury. Now if you look only from a selfish angle, you will not contribute to team's growth. But for me the team comes first. You are competing with an established player like Harbhajan Singh? When I was 13-14, I saw Harbhajan take 30 odd wickets against Australia. That was the first time I really thought off-spin could be an option. It's an honour to watch him from so close and see how he goes about things. I am just looking at whatever I can learn from him, put it in practice, and be a better bowler in future. Harbhajan is a great; I am just stepping onto the ladder. Professional rivalry is natural when you are competing for the same spot? It never happens to me, may be something is wrong with me. But I am happy the way I am. I don't go on the field telling myself that I have to win against this guy. I play this game only for fun and if there was no fun in it, I wouldn't be playing. Do you sometimes feel that you are born in a wrong era, as you may not get enough opportunities with Harbhajan around? You can't really help it. Maybe if I were born three or fours years later than I did, I might have been luckier. Even if my career isn't scripted perfectly, I am happy with what has happened in my life, and will remain the same irrespective of what happens in future. I have no regrets whatsoever. Do you feel extra motivated when you are playing against his team, the Mumbai Indians, in the IPL? I don't know how you can weigh a bowler against a bowler. It's eleven people who we have to outsmart. He is another cricketer, and I am another. At the end of the day you are playing a game, which is a source of fun and should remain the same. How do you complement each other? Playing together against the West Indies and Australia was brilliant. Every time I had something to say, I would go and tell him. It was easy for him to shut out a youngster, but he didn't and we always had a good chat. We were very happy for each. I could feel pleasure in the tears of Harbhajan, Tendulkar, Yuvraj when we won. There was a strong opinion that you should have played much earlier. How's your equation with Dhoni, who knows you well? The equation with the captain doesn't matter. Being a part of the side with an ace spinner, you got to be a fool to feel disappointed at not being picked. I was waiting for an opportunity, training hard to cover all bases. Dhoni has been giving me a lot confidence, and I was confident that he would play me whenever he felt I could make a difference in a given scenario. I need to be thankful to him; he has given me chance to prove my abilities. You didn't get time to savour your World Cup win? If that's the way cricket has to be, that's how it will be. As a cricketer of the modern era, you will have to adjust. Indian Premier League is not a lesser tournament, we will try to win again and be the Manchester United of this competition. http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HD/2011/04/23/ArticleHtmls/INTERVIEW-Bhajji-is-a-great-Im-starting-out-23042011022004.shtml?Mode=1
vvvslaxman Posted April 23, 2011 Posted April 23, 2011 Keep up the good work. While he may not be able to replace Bhajji, he has nudged himself ahead of Ojha, Mishra, Chawla(except world cup), Jaddu, Powar. It is very hard to break into Indian line up as an offie as we have a full time offie and several part time offies. He had to be unique. His confidence to bowl well inside power play definitely had a say in his selection. In spinners career it is not how you start, it is how you sustain is the key. Bedi said Mendis will take 500 wickets. But he is getting canned in country cricket by noname players.
Cricket Tragic Posted April 23, 2011 Posted April 23, 2011 He comes across as a mature and sensible chap. Hope that he continues to do well for us.
jonas10 Posted April 24, 2011 Posted April 24, 2011 I hope he replaces Bhajji soon in ODIs. A very good fielder, excellent with the new ball and a more consistent batsmen than Bhajji. Unfortunately im afraid politics will probably keep Bhajji in the team longer than necessary.
yoda Posted April 25, 2011 Posted April 25, 2011 Currently Ashwin may be able to replace Bhajji in ODIs, but he doesn't seem to be test material to me. He can contain, has variations yes, but the wickets are falling like they should even in an odd game here and there.
NareshK Posted April 25, 2011 Posted April 25, 2011 Bhajji is just an average bowler as far as I'm concerned. Now that India has won the World Cup all is forgotten but he was pretty dismal throughout the tournament and that too on slow turning tracks. Even Yuvraj got more wickets and he was our main spinner ffs. I'm sure his place in the side, more than others would have been uncertain if they had lost.
ganeshran Posted April 25, 2011 Posted April 25, 2011 Bhajji is a good test bowler, he seems to have lost the wicket taking ability in ODIs. IMO, selectors should start looking at replacements and Ashwin is a good candidate
Cricket Tragic Posted April 25, 2011 Posted April 25, 2011 ^A very good fielder ? Really. Haha, my thought exactly. His fielding (and catching in particular) is terrible. Plenty of time to improve though. His fielding in the WC match against Aus was good.
vvvslaxman Posted April 25, 2011 Posted April 25, 2011 Haha' date=' my thought exactly. His fielding (and catching in particular) is terrible. Plenty of time to improve though. His fielding in the WC match against Aus was good.[/quote'] Yup. A terrible fielder. But he has definitely improved it unlike some of the guys who are perennially bad fielders. Fielding is one thing that can be improved. Unfortunately Dhoni has this opinion that we cannot improve.
Cricket Tragic Posted April 25, 2011 Posted April 25, 2011 Yup. A terrible fielder. But he has definitely improved it unlike some of the guys who are perennially bad fielders. Fielding is one thing that can be improved. Unfortunately Dhoni has this opinion that we cannot improve. I don't know why Dhoni keeps saying that. :facepalm: Clearly it can be improved and we've seen examples.
Retard Posted April 25, 2011 Posted April 25, 2011 Ashwin should get a chance in both ODI and Test " Ashwin is More accurate asking questions all the time and little bit of carrom ball ( ashwin bowls carrom ball better then ajanta mendis )". Ashwin do well in field coz his new to the squad , most new players they field well in order to make there place in the team. Once they get settled in team Then ghar ki murgi daal barabar. Harbhajan should get a shock and push him to play first class cricket where he would find his foam and comeback to international cricket. Yuvraj did the same by scoring runs in domestic cricket and trained hard in order find a place in the team and end up becaming player of the tournament 2011 world cup Too much of hype about harbhajan ,infact his lost his form and playing in the team only coz of past records he should be thankful to dhoni for picking him in the playing eleven
Ultimate_Game Posted April 25, 2011 Posted April 25, 2011 Best part is he's "mentally strong" and doesn't need a lot of "confidence" :winky:
f.b.m Posted April 26, 2011 Posted April 26, 2011 Yup. A terrible fielder. But he has definitely improved it unlike some of the guys who are perennially bad fielders. Fielding is one thing that can be improved. Unfortunately Dhoni has this opinion that we cannot improve. Looks like he is putting a lot of effort to improve it. In todays match he was like a camel diving around and so on. Not at all a natural athlete but has the attitude to make it to the top level (tesht kirkut). Afaik, he was one of the few players who took part and completed fitness drill that Gary Kirsten had in store for him according to masala news sources.
Number Posted April 26, 2011 Posted April 26, 2011 mentioned abt fabregas .. looks like he is an arsenal fan . haha
Number Posted April 26, 2011 Posted April 26, 2011 Yup. A terrible fielder. But he has definitely improved it unlike some of the guys who are perennially bad fielders. Fielding is one thing that can be improved. Unfortunately Dhoni has this opinion that we cannot improve. I think dhoni said it during wc or a tournament , and I agree with him in a tournament you can't improve fielding overnight , it takes time. for rest I agree ashwin has got time on his side , he can improve his fielding , can become a decent if not brilliant fielder in 1-2 years.
ganeshran Posted April 26, 2011 Posted April 26, 2011 Ashwin is an intelligent bowler but he also needs to keep putting that extra effort to become much better than what he is today. His flight is very good and entices the batsman. Yesterday's ball to Uthappa was the best of the match IMO
yoda Posted April 26, 2011 Posted April 26, 2011 His flight is very good and entices the batsman. Yesterday's ball to Uthappa was the best of the match IMO You mean best of the season? I haven't seen an off spinner bowl someone from around the legs. I am sure it has happened though.
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