‘I Am Always Jealous Of Him. So Gifted, So Talented’: R Ashwin’s Massive Praise For India Teammate. It’s Not Jasprit Bumrah

Chasing in pairs is a common catchphrase for fast bowlers, but Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have given it a new twist, consistently troubling the opposition in more ways than one. The Tango and Cash of modern Indian cricket’s last mission came against Bangladesh in the ongoing first Test here, when they added 199 runs for the seventh wicket to guide India to 376 all out from a shaky 144 for six. It was a new high even for the Ashwin-Jadeja combine, who have recorded three 50-plus stands together in the past to steady the Indian ship.

Ashwin did not hide his admiration for Jadeja. “I am always jealous of him. So gifted, so talented. He has found ways to maximise his potential. I wish I could be him but I am happy being me,” Ashwin told reporters at the post-match press conference in Chennai on Friday.

The Chennai man admitted that Jadeja at the other end helped him compile his sixth Test hundred.

“He’s an exceptionally good cricketer. I’m happy for him. In so many ways I think watching him bat over the last few years has given me an insight into how I can improve,” he added.

But when it comes to bowling, Ashwin has a completely different philosophy, baffling his batters with an endless array of tricks.

Jadeja is more realistic, keeps it tight and uses subtle changes in line and length to achieve his wins.

But together they have found a way to coexist, which benefits the team. In January this year, the duo surpassed Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh’s mark of 501 wickets to become India’s most successful bowling combination.

“He keeps it very simple. He can repeat it (bowling) day in and day out. So we’ve both grown together. We’ve both done some special things.

“We appreciate each other so much right now and we both enjoy each other’s success more than ever,” Ashwin explains.

But the matter is not over yet. They will now have to bowl together once more in Bangladesh’s fourth innings to take the side home.

Ashwin, who failed to take a wicket in Bangladesh’s first innings, which ended on 149, has already predicted in his mind how the visitors would go down.

“I think there’s a little bit more up-and-down bounce. I would say the carry is still there. It’s probably accelerated a little bit (today) and then it’s back on the slow side. I really think as this game unfolds, if it gets to day four or five, it’s definitely going to change.

“But the challenge in this match is to control the spin because eventually the surface will do its tricks to the batters,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published via a syndicated feed.)