Virat Kohli turns interviewer, gets Ashwin in the hot seat

NEW DELHI: Ravichandran Ashwin was rightfully crowned 'Player of the Match' for his all-rounder performance in the second Test between India and England in Chennai. The off-spinner took an eight-wicket haul and scored a 106-run to emerge as a strong pillar behind India's amazing win.

The audience, along with the players, were stunned by the cricketer's show on the pitch. "If you take the game away from me, I am literally lost," Ashwin said after the match.

The 34-year-old off-spinner was interviewed by captain Virat Kohli, who picked up the mic to ask Ashwin the reason behind his impressive form. During the chat, the cricketer revealed how he no longer was desperate to prove anyone wrong and was focusing on proving himself what he is capable of.


"In the past when I toured, there was a desperation trying to prove others wrong. But this time when I went out there, it was more about proving to myself what I am capable of. One thing I have noticed from distance when I see people who do well through the year is how balanced they are in terms of not wanting to be desperate," the cricketer said.

Ashwin has been in great form on the pitch since the Australia tour as he took crucial wickets and also scored big runs with the bat for his team during dire need. When Kohli asked Ashwin what led to this transformation in his performance, the cricketer said that he used his time during the lockdown to observe and learn from people. The cricketer said that he'd put the TV on and watch games to reflect on things.

"I think the whole pandemic thing... During which we shut off and locked ourselves down, I was thinking about what is going to happen. if you take the game away from me, I am literally lost. Even if I am not playing some formats for the country, I am putting the TV on and watching." He added, "So I was reflecting upon myself trying to understand how I can learn from people and what they were perceiving of me. That perception really made sure that I was playing a game that is completely different to who I was."

During the second innings, the off-spinner maintained a 96-run partnership with Kohli, and for the India cricket team captain, it was a special partnership. "The game was tentatively poised, Ash came out and he changed the momentum of the whole game," Kohli said during the interview.

Just like Kohli, the fans are equally impressed by Ashwin. "He has been a superb bowler but his performance with the Bat was amazing ..very determined and confident .. absolute treat to watch when the ball was bouncing and spinning like no tomorrow," one user wrote on Twitter.










India's victory on Tuesday in Chennai has placed the team in the second position with 69.7 per cent points on the points chart. However, the team cannot afford to lose another match in order to qualify for the final of the ICC World Test Championship.