Ashwin promises that India will come hard at WI, praises coach Kumble too

Ashwin promises attack from the word go. File Pic
Ashwin promises attack from the word go. File Pic

Internet Desk: India’s leading spinner Ravischandran Ashwin promises o come hard at the West Indies batsmen in the first test in Antigua starting from July 21. India will face WIBP XI in the three day affair of the second warm-up game which begins from today.

“From the way the opposition played in the last match, it gave me the picture that they are pretty much used to the conditions. For example they opened with Rajendra Chandrika, the way he batted it gave me a glimpse at how they might be going about it,” Ashwin told bcci.tv.

“Over the last year or two they have played really well in the first innings, so that is going to be a challenge for us to try and really be boring and really come hard at them in the first innings and knock them over early and be as disciplined as possible. The first innings is going to be very important to follow into the Test match.”

The off-spinner, who was rested during the first warm-up game against WICB Presidents XI, said that the slowish tracks in the Caribbean will be a big challenge for the spinners and he is ready to bowl “boring lines all day” during the series.

India off-spinner R Ashwin feels head coach Anil Kumble is someone who understands bowling psyche and can provide the right impetus to the bowlers during match situations.

“Understanding a bowler’s psyche is a challenge and it is difficult for a batter to understand that. Someone like him he understands how the situation is and conditions are, he might give you the right impetus that you need,” Ashwin said.

“For example, if you are going well but wickets haven’t fallen, he might be that one hand around your shoulder saying this is exactly what we want you to keep doing.”

The 29-year-old from Tamil Nadu, who has grown up watching Kumble said he was happy to find the iconic cricketer just as he had imagined over the years.

“There is a saying that whenever you come too close to a celebrity, you get disappointed but with respect to Anil bhai whatever I have measured of him from a distance have come true,” he said.