I am shutting the outside noise better than I have ever done: Ravi Ashwin

Indian off-spinner Ravi Ashwin has said that he has reached a stage in his career where he’s learned to not pay heed to outside noises. Ashwin has faced backlash quite a few times due to his on-field antics, but having played for a significant amount of time, cricket has remained one of the major purposes in his life.

Ashwin has had a decent outing in India’s ongoing Test match against New Zealand at Green Park in Kanpur. In the first innings, the off-spinner picked up the three wickets of Will Young, Kyle Jamieson and William Somerville and bowled at an economy rate of 1.90 in 42.3 overs. Axar Patel, however, was the wreaker-in-chief as he picked up a five-wicket haul to break the backbone of the Kiwis’ batting unit. On the back of the spells from Ashwin and Patel, India managed to get a first-innings lead of 49 runs.

“Look, I thought we stuck together really well as a bowling unit. 130-140 overs on that sort of pitch and going less than 2.5 runs per over, it was always going to be hard work and we were prepared for that,” Ashwin was quoted as saying on Star Sports.

“Everyone played their role perfectly. I felt the new ball was an easier time to bat in terms of scoring runs, but we got wickets with the second new ball,” he stated.

Cricket is the purpose of my life, says Ravi Ashwin

“I thought it was a wonderful effort. Sometimes it is easier said than done. I cannot be saying cliched things. I have lived through expectations for a while now, for me, cricket is the purpose of my life. I am at that stage where I am shutting the outside noise better than I have ever done,” he added.