Chennai, India: Speaking at the post-match press conference after India’s 280-run win over Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin spoke about the challenges of playing at 38 and his fitness routine.
‘Every effort has to be doubled’: Ashwin reflects on challenges and fitness routine at 38 after win against Bangladesh
“It’s a challenge. It’s not like you’re 25, 26, 30, 35, you have to redouble the effort you put in,” Ashwin said at the post-match press conference.
“I didn’t play many matches but I played in the TNPL and the intensity was pretty high,” he added.
When asked about his goals and mindset, Ashwin said, “I didn’t have any goals. I just wanted to enjoy the game and do my best. I don’t have any ambitions at the moment. I want to play for as long as possible and will continue to play with the same attitude.”
Talking about his fitness regime, Ashwin said, “I’ve cut down on strength training and focused on range of motion. I do yoga for a living.”
The fourth day of the Chennai Test began with India needing six wickets and Bangladesh needing 357 or more runs to win the opener of the two-match series.
For India, Ashwin took six wickets in 21 overs and conceded 88 runs, Jadeja conceded 58 runs in 5.1 overs and took three wickets in two no-ball overs, while Jasprit Bumrah conceded just 24 runs in 10 overs and took one wicket in two no-ball overs.
At drinks-off, Bangladesh were 194 for 4, with Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan unbeaten at the bat.
After drinks, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin provided the home team with their first breakthrough when he sent left-handed batsman Shakib Al Hasan back to the pavilion after he was dismissed after scoring 25 runs.
After the left-hand batsman was dismissed, the team’s wicketkeeper Litton Das came in as the middle-order batsman along with captain Shanto.
Bangladesh reached the 200-run milestone in 53.5 overs when Shanto smashed a boundary off Ashwin’s delivery.
In the next over, Das returned to the dressing room after Jediah’s delivery yielded just one run when the team’s score was 205 in 55 overs.
From there Bangladesh began to falter and were bowled out for just 234 runs in 62.1 overs of the second innings.
Shanto played a brilliant innings of 82 runs off 127 balls which included eight boundaries and three maximums.
Bangladesh were 158/4 with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan unbeaten at the end of day three. Bangladesh began the post-tea session at 56/0 with Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan both unbeaten with bat.
Jasprit Bumrah batted for India early in the session, getting Zakir out for 33. The remaining three wickets went to Ravichandran Ashwin, who got out Shadman Islam, Mominul Haq and Mushfiqur Rahim.
As the second session of the third day of the Chennai Test resumed, India were at 205 for 3 with Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill unbeaten with bat. India currently hold a lead of 432 runs. Gill played an unbeaten knock of 119 runs off 176 balls, which included 10 boundaries and four maximums.
Middle-order batsman K.L. Rahul also showed some valuable batting skills, scoring a runless 22 off 19 balls, including four boundaries.
India declared their innings when the team’s score stood at 287 for the loss of four wickets. The team had set the visitors a target of 515 to win the series opener.
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