Ravichandran Ashwin reveals the secret behind his ‘spin magic’

Indian ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin showcased his bowling brilliance in the first Test against West Indies at Windsor Park, leaving the West Indian batters struggling to read his variations and stay on the crease. Ashwin utilized the extra bounce and spin to make it difficult for the middle-order batters to read his variations, line, and length. Ending the Test with figures of 12/131, his best away from home, Ashwin explained his strategic thought process while bowling.

During a post-match chat with commentators, Ian Bishop and Samuel Badree, Ashwin explained that he thinks like a batter when he bowls, settling into a rhythm and looking for different angles. He gauges the pitch and right pace to bowl with, and then focuses on the batter’s head movement and where they want to score runs.

The Indian spinner specifically elaborated on his dismissal of West Indies skipper Kraigg Braithwaite on Day 3. “I noticed he was losing his head when the round-arm action was coming in, limiting his options,” Ashwin explained.

While not divulging into the specifics of his release point, Ashwin highlighted the impact of natural variation on batters’ minds. “The moment a batter walks in, you know what he wants to do. Making an early assessment of their intentions allows me to attack them upfront,” he added.

With the second Test against West Indies set to begin on July 20, Ashwin will be aiming to replicate his exceptional performance and continue to outsmart the West Indies batsmen with his strategic bowling tactics.