Ind vs Eng 2021: Lost 7-8 kgs in the lockdown – Ravichandran Ashwin

India’s veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed that he lost 7-8 kgs of weight during the lockdown period and it has been helped him turn the tables in the recent past. It has been fruitful last couple of months for Ashwin as he has played at the top of his game.

Ashwin had a decent IPL for Delhi Capitals as he scalped 13 wickets in 15 matches and played a key role in taking the franchise to the final of the tournament. Subsequently, Ashwin took 12 wickets in the three Test matches against Australia and kept talisman batsman Steve Smith quiet in the first two matches.

Ashwin is always a threat in the home conditions and he has breathed down the neck of the England batsmen as he has snared 24 wickets in three Test matches at an average of 15.71. The talisman spinner also became the second-fastest bowler to take 400 Test wickets as he reached the milestone in 77 matches.

Ashwin has worked hard on his fitness and he has been able to reap the rewards. The off-spinner has great control in the home conditions and he is mostly accurate with the ball.

Ravichandran Ashwin said in the post-match presentation, “I think my bowling is coming beautifully, I thought I was bowling well in the IPL. In Australia, I had a chat with Ravi and Virat on my batting, they felt I was bowling well. I worked a lot on my fitness, this body is aging, have been working on it and it has looked upwards for me since the lockdown”.

On the other hand, Ravichandran Ashwin has also been able to turn the tables with the bat. Ashwin hadn’t delivered the goods with the bat in the last 18 months but played an important role in drawing the Sydney Test match against Australia. Furthermore, Ashwin scored a fine knock of 106 runs in the second Test match at his home ground of Chepauk Stadium.

Ashwin added it was a pleasant experience to get to 400 Test wickets and he will look to continue the good show.

Ashwin added, “Pleasant experience (on reaching 400 Test wickets), good that it happened in a winning cause. It was nice to get the crowd on my back and applauding the effort. We were worried after getting bowled out for 145, didn’t think we didn’t have many runs on the board”.

The fourth Test match will take place at the same venue of Narendra Modi Stadium from the 4th of March.