Ravichandran Ashwin working on variations ahead of SA tour

The premier off-spinner of India Ravichandran Ashwin is working on a new balling variation ahead of the gruelling tour of South Africa. Team India is all set to leave for their first overseas and challenging tour later this month under the inspired leadership of Virat Kohli. Ashwin is expected to play a huge role during the three-match Test series against the Proteas. However, he is developing a leg-spin variation in his bowling while gearing up for the challenge ahead.

Ashwin has been continuously overlooked by the selectors in the limited overs format following the huge success of the wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. But he remains the top bowler in the whites for India and is also expected to play at least the first Test given the efforts he has put in his bowling. His stint at the County Championship has helped him a lot and even Ashwin is looking forward to bettering his record away from home.

Offie desperate to perfect leg-spin

Ravichandran Ashwin was spotted bowling leg-spin deliveries mostly according to Times of India during a VAP Trophy match against Grand Slam at MA Chidambaram Stadium. In the nine overs which he bowled, the offie bowled six overs of leg-spin and also scalped two wickets. His figures, in the end, read, 9-0-47-2. Ashwin was able to extract the zip, turn and bounce from the pitch and also had a decent control over his line and length. If the sources are to be believed, the 31-year-old desperately wants to perfect the delivery before leaving to South Africa.

“I knew Ashwin was working on leg spin. He was discussing about it during the Ranji nets. He did bowl the odd leggie against Andhra and Mumbai. I had kept wickets for him. But his accuracy is excellent,” Jagadeesan told TOI on Thursday. He also informed that Ashwin’s deliveries spun sharply in between and he was able to execute the variations with consistency. “He bowled googlies and executed the faster one with good control. As a batsman, you can’t get away from him. His height is an advantage and he did generate bounce,” he added.