Ravichandran Ashwin Looking for a New Chapter at Home in Chepauk

Ravichandran Ashwin is easily the best cricketer produced by Tamil Nadu so far. He has produced a lot of great moments for the Test side starting with his beauties to Alastair Cook at Edgbaston to his exploits at home. In T20 Cricket as well Ravichandran Ashwin has produced some beauties. He is one of the most prolific bowlers in the IPL and has his share of Titles to his credit.

In ODI Cricket though, the format that got Ashwin into international Cricket, Ravichandran Ashwin has had sparse magic moments. Starting as a white-ball specialist, Ashwin could not cope with the change in nature of the format. He was a regular till 2017 but a poor Champions Trophy and the rise of India’s leg-spin duo pushed him out. As a result, Ashwin has only played four ODIs in the last six years.

An injury to Axar Patel, a dearth in all-round experience and Ashwin’s persona in general helped him find his name in the discussion. Playing a decent hand in the ODI series with Australia, Ashwin found himself back for the World Cup, a tournament he played last in 2015. His white-ball career seemed over though when he was taken apart by England in the Semi-Finals of the last T20 World Cup.

Almost a year on though, with another chance Ravichandran Ashwin finally produced an unplayable delivery in an ODI. He bowled a reverse carrom ball to Marnus Labuschagne which held its line and hit the stumps perfectly.

Ashwin is now back in the blues and is hoping to start a new chapter in his very own Chepauk. He was discarded six years ago when him and Ravindra Jadeja could not pick up enough wickets in the middle overs. Now though the same side has been found looking for a player of his skillset with Axar Patel producing a set of skills very similar to Jadeja.

Considering its a home World Cup sides know that spin will be an important formula. The venues in most cases will tempt sides to play a third spinner. In India’s case the third spinner now gives them all the options and could well be their best with the ball. In Kuldeep India have the wrist-spinning wicket-taker for the middle-overs. With Ashwin they have a finger spinner who can turn the ball both ways and offers a lot of control and variation. Jadeja too offers control and accuracy that can irritate batters.

Additionally, both Ashwin and Jadeja are very capable all-rounders, solving India’s issues with their depth. If there is any venue in India that could tempt India to play three spinners it is Chennai. A venue with decent but not too big boundaries and a pitch that offers grip. As often seen in the IPL, Chennai is one ground which does not make it easy to hit spinners out of the attack. MS Dhoni knows it well, and both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin will know the requirements after spending so many years at the ground.

Early sightings and reports further suggest that the pitch will be dry and low. With nine venues to go though, this venue will give them the easiest of selection headaches. In other cases India will be battling between picking Shardul Thakur and Ravichandran Ashwin. One is a fast bowling all-rounder and the other is a spin-bowling all-rounder.

With Ashwin though India has a player with loads of experience. Against Australia in particular he has a good record against most of their batters having run-through their line-up in Test Cricket on a number of occasions. He did the same in 2013 when he faced them in a Test match. Now, Ravichandran Ashwin in what could be his last appearance at Chepauk has another opportunity to do the same.

His journey in ODI Cricket has been very strange. He started his World Cup career against West Indies in Chennai in 2011. Now, he could start a new World Cup career in Chennai again, facing Australia. It has been a long journey with some unexpected turns. For now, though Ashwin has a chance to find himself where his story began all those years ago. Australia though will be ready as a trial by spin awaits them at Chepauk.