Ravichandran Ashwin on partnership with Ravindra Jadeja
Not one, India had two players of the series. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Between them, they shared 47 wickets in the four Tests as India wrapped up the series 2-1. And now between them, they share a total of 146 wickets against Australia in the last three Test series at home.
After the fourth match ended in a draw in Ahmedabad on Monday, Ashwin reminisced on his partnership with his spin twin. “It has been a great journey. We (himself and Jadeja) started a long time ago but we wouldn’t be the same or lethal enough without the other. We need to recognise that, at least I have started recognising that over the last 2-3 years.”
The all-rounder further added, “He gives me a lot of freedom to be creative with the ball, credit to him, I thought he bowled beautifully in the Delhi Test as well and that’s why we are here today. Jaddu keeps it really simple, he does not fret around or bother about what has happened, but I saw him sit in one place for an hour after he got out, so that told me how disappointed he was and that came out today.”
Moment to savour 👏👏
This is #TeamIndia 🇮🇳#INDvAUS | @mastercardindia pic.twitter.com/j6ZR8R8fZr
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 13, 2023
With the wicket in Ahmedabad having little on offer as opposed to the one in Nagpur, Delhi and Indore, Ashwin marked the headlines for India with the ball as he picked a 6-fer in the first innings. Thus, overtaking the left arm orthodox to top the wickets tally the end of the series.
“The conversations have been a lot more in the last 2-3 years because I know how to communicate and what are his likes, his dislikes and even knowing what will help him. Even he has adapted beautifully to the chop and change, during the series when Head was going, Khawaja was playing, we had a lot of good conversations and some of them ended up with wickets and some of them are quite funny,” he said.
Jadeja, a man of few words, would also open up on his thoughts about the spin partnership. “It feels good bowling with him. He (Ashwin) is passing on information. What field to have, how to bowl to a particular batsman.”
Jadeja, who was the joint second highest wicket taker in the series alongside Nathan Lyon, expressed his discontent over his outings with the bat. In four matches, the southpaw was only able to score 135 runs, giving away his wicket in the Ahmedabad Test to a reckless shot.
“I am not too happy with my batting in this series. I missed out on a few occasions especially in this Test. I will work harder and focus on my batting. He is more of everything. He has a good cricketing brain. He knows every team in the world and every series that is being played,” he said after the game.
