Ashwin, who scored another crucial half-century, has touch of Laxman in batting style and shots
There's a touch of VVS Laxman in the way Ravichandran Ashwin bats and plays some of his shots.
He may not be as big a force with the willow as the legendary batsman, but Ashwin can still extract a lot of applause if one sees him drive through the covers or use his wrist to flick a ball on the on side.
The arc that Ashwin generates from his backlift to the follow through while driving makes one admire it. Much like one admired Laxman in his days, who always played his shots with soft hands.
Asked if he thought his batting resembled that of the stylish Hyderabadi, Ashwin said with a shy smile: "I just hope the comparison ends there."
However, with the kind of batting form he has been over the last few months, it only shows how much India's No. 6 is enjoying his stay at the crease, especially in Test cricket. That's the reason why skipper Virat Kohli isn't in a hurry to draft in a seaming all-rounder.
On Friday, Ashwin showcased his batting skills once again at the ACA-VDCA Stadium here. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder notched up his eight half-century in Test cricket that helped India get past the 400-run mark before following up with a lovely spell with the ball that fetched him two wickets and ensured India finished the day on top.
Ashwin, who was once a genuine batsman before taking up bowling, scored a 95-ball 58 that was studded with six fours. Ashwin said that he has been enjoying batting for the past few months.
"I am quite enjoying my batting, tried staying a little positive. Obviously, with runs behind my back wherever I have gone, I have contributed heavily in the last four-five months. And generally, there are attacks where you feel confident batting out there," Ashwin said on Friday.
The 30-year-old said he was confident of doing well against the English attack.
"Ever since England toured here last time, I have been batting well against them, so that's a psychological advantage you carry into a game when I play against them. Obviously, I worked on a few things which I indicated in the West Indies. It is working out really well and I am enjoying my batting," Ashwin added.
Stop pitch jibes, Ashwin says
It is not easy to deal with Ravichandran Ashwin. A tough question gets a tough answer. Ashwin doesn't take questions on pitches kindly, and thus had a go at a scribe during the post-match conference on Friday. Asked about his assessment of the pitch for the second Test, Ashwin said: "Honestly, I wish one day I walk into a press conference and stop answering questions on the pitch. That is as good an Indian pitch as one could get. I don't know why this jibe comes back at us. It looks like a jibe at Indian wickets. You guys watch the game all day and the pitch you guys can access better than we do," he said.
Ever since England toured here last time, I have been batting well against them, so that's a psychological advantage you carry into a game when I play against them
--Ravichandran Ashwin
N ZONE
50.90
Ravichandran Ashwin's batting average against England, his tally being 509 runs in 13 innings including four fifties
61.14
Ashwin's average in the first innings of Tests this year. He has scored 428 in seven innings including two tons and two fifties
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