Plan was to lure Aus batters to play drives: Ashwin

NAGPUR: India’s premier spinner R Ashwin said on Saturday his plan to lure the Australian batters to play the drive shots and induce mistakes from them on a slow Nagpur track worked well as the home side won the first Test by an innings and 132 runs here.

“The wicket was very slow. I have been saying this all through the Test. (It’s) Not one of those pitches where you might get the gloves ripping off at short leg or silly point. You need to get the batter driving on this wicket,” Ashwin said after the match.

“So, I thought giving them (Australia batters) one or two balls to drive, induce them into shots and probably induce the other half of the bat as well.”

The senior player spoke highly about fellow spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, who also scored big runs.

“To say (that I got) massive help from Jaddu (Jadeja) would be an understatement. He has been in phenomenal form. In the last three years, the way he has batted and bowled, we don’t need to talk how well he moves on the field and how much addition he has been to the team; he has just been a fantastic cricketer.

“I am so thankful that I got a bowling partner like him. Axar is also no ordinary bowler either. So, we have a very good set of spinners and we all can bat as well,” said Ashwin.

Asked about the dominant win against a side like Australia, he said, “I will credit our batting unit, they kept them (Australia) long (enough) on the field. It was going to be difficult for them to come out to bat. The early wickets set the tone for us in the second innings.”

In India’s first innings, Ashwin came out ahead of Cheteshwar Pujara as night watchman after opener KL Rahul’s dismissal on the first day on Thursday. He went on to score 23 runs.

Asked if he volunteered to come out at No. 3, Ashwin said, “It has been going on for a while. I really struggle to cope sitting inside and watching the guys bat in the middle. Sometimes it is too nervous for me these days.

“I have been asking for an opportunity to go out and bat early on. There was an opportunity (in this Test). It presented itself. My friend Pujara just let me go as a night watchman with 20 minutes to go (on the first day) and I gladly took the opportunity.

“I really look forward to go out and bat. I just feel that I am getting into good position. If and when I get an opportunity, I am always ready.”