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SPORTS OCTOBER 04, 2024 | The Indian Eye 46

Era of Gamball: Ashwin praises coaches Dravid

and Gambhir as India score another series win

In the Chennai Test, Ashwin scored a counter-attacking 113 in the first innings and took a

six-wicket haul in the final innings to help his team win the game

OUR BUREAU
Kanpur, UP

he era of ‘Gamball’ is well underway after
Rahul Dravid guided India to its ultimate
Tdream as the head coach. During his reign,
India ended more than a decade-long wait for the
ICC World Cup trophy by lifting the T20 title ear-
lier this year. As Dravid’s tenure ended, Gautam
Gambhir was named as his successor.
Ashwin has had the opportunity to play under
the wing of both stars. He pointed out that there
isn’t a huge gap between Gambhir and Dravid’s
approach or the passion that the duo shares for In-
dian cricket.
“I was seeing some posts about ‘Gam-
ball’--someone had shared something about it,
which was interesting. But look, the coaches are
here for the welfare of the team, and I don’t see
huge differences in how they approach the game
or the passion they have for Indian cricket. Their
passion is at the highest level. I mean, they bring an
incredible amount of love to that dressing room,”
Ashwin said on JioCinema after the match.
“I feel a bit sheepish saying this, but I played
with Gauti Bhai and Rahul Bhai, and they’ve been
my coaches in that dressing room. Their passion
for Indian cricket is palpable, and it’s amazing to
witness. To have them pass on their knowledge,
it’s like having two cricketing geeks to talk cricket
with, and I couldn’t be happier or more at ease,”
he added.
The new era of Indian cricket has begun with India’s Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja celebrate a wicket during the first test match against Bangladesh at MA
a mixed bag of results. In Gautam Gambhir’s first Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai (ANI)
T20I assignment as coach, India won the T20I se-
ries against Sri Lanka. Days after securing the se-
ries, India unprecedentedly lost the three-match including a counter-attacking century in the first with the bat and the ball. He levelled with Sri Lank-
ODI series against Sri Lanka. However, India Test at his home in Chennai and taking 11 wickets. an great Mutthiah Muralitharan to become player
bounced back in the Test format to complete the Speaking on his Youtube Channel, Ramiz said, with joint-most ‘Player of the Series’ records, with
series sweep over Bangladesh. “He (Ashwin) has not been celebrated as much as a total of 11.
After India extended its lead at the top of the he should be as an all-rounder. If you look at his In the Chennai Test, Ashwin scored a count-
World Test Championship standings, their focus record, he is not less than anyone. He is a no-non- er-attacking 113 in the first innings and took a
will now shift to T20I format for the three-match sense cricketer, takes everything in his stride. Even six-wicket haul in the final innings to help his team
series against Bangladesh. India’s focus will then when he is the 12th man or is out of the team, there win the game.
move to Test cricket for the three-match series are no tantrums. He understands the team’s situa- This was the fourth instance of Ashwin secur-
against New Zealand. tion and his responsibility,” ing a century and five-wicket haul in a Test. Only
Meanwhile, former Pakistan cricket and Paki- Ramiz said that whenever Ashwin gets a England legend Ian Botham is ahead of Ashwin
stan Cricket Board (PCB) president Ramiz Raja chance, he plays brilliantly and there is a lot to in this aspect, having managed to do this feat five
said that Indian veteran Ravichandran Ashwin has learn from the veteran. times.
not been celebrated enough as an all-rounder. call- “He is opinionated but not like he does a lot Also, this was Ashwin’s 37th five-wicket haul in
ing him a “no-nonsense cricketer”. of critical analysis of anything off the field. He has Test cricket. Now, he has tied with legendary Aus-
Ramiz’s remarks come after the all-round- an intelligent take on the game, which shows in his tralian spinner Shane Warne for joint second-most
er’s fine performance during the two-match series comments,” he added. fifers in the longest format of the game. The only
against Bangladesh at home. He was given the The Indian all-rounder broke a lot of records one ahead of Ashwin is Sri Lankan legend Muttiah
‘Player of the Series’ award for scoring 114 runs, and unlocked a lot of milestones in the series, both Muralitharan, who has 67 five-wicket hauls.

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