Love bowling in Hyderabad, says Ravichandran Ashwin

Ace Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is all set to return to cricket after a short break. Ashwin was rested from the recently concluded T20I series against England. Now, he is hitting the practice sessions yet again as team India gears up for the one-off Test against Bangladesh. This will be the first ever Test match for Bangladesh on the Indian soil ever since they were inducted as a Test side in 2000. The build up to the series is good and Ravichandran Ashwin is all excited to be a part of the match.

The two sides will meet at Rajiv Gandhi International stadium at Hyderabad for the only match of the tour on February 9. In a recent conversation with the BCCI.tv, Ashwin mentioned that he loves bowling at the venue. He cited that the longer boundaries gives him the freedom to toss the ball a little more than usual. It is a good venue where a bowler can be imaginative.

“At this ground, it bounces a bit more at the centre wicket (match strip). Entire facility is great. It’s a lush green outfield. This is a big ground for a spinner, you can toss up a bit more even in shorter version of the game. There is a little more hold on the wicket, the bounce gives you allowance to be imaginative. I enjoy bowling here,” quoted Ravichandran Ashwin.

Speaking about the opposition, Ashwin remarked that their recent performances in New Zealand Test series were good. Also, it is never easy to tour New Zealand. “They are coming from a tour of New Zealand and we all know that it is not easy to tour New Zealand,” he quoted.

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Ashwin, the number one ranked ICC Test bowler reflected back at the time when things started going great for him after the Bangladesh tour. He had bagged a five wicket haul at Fatullah and there has been no stopping him since then. “I would love to repeat that performance as the ball was coming out of my hand like a dream,” he pointed out.

He also said that the break was a much needed one as he was not at his comfortable best. Now, he is all good to go for the Test match.

“I was suffering from adductor pubalgia or athletic pubalgia. I have been managing it since England series and I needed this break to recoup before the Test series. The break was all about rehab and doing lot of training, active recovery. I was training 2-3 times and didn’t have much time to do other things than getting ready for the series,” he conceded.