Ravichandran Ashwin Embraces Pressure-Free Cricket, Focuses on Enjoyment

Ravichandran Ashwin, the veteran Indian all-rounder, has undergone a significant mental transformation, shedding the pressure that once weighed heavily on him. In a candid interview, Ashwin revealed that he has liberated himself from external and internal pressures, allowing him to approach cricket with a newfound sense of freedom and enjoyment.

Ashwin's recent century in the opening Test against Bangladesh is a testament to his mental liberation. Batting with resilience and determination, he rescued India from a precarious position, showcasing his versatility as a cricketer. Ashwin emphasized that he now only responds to pressure situations on the field, unlike in the past when he reacted to every perceived criticism.

"I do enjoy and embrace pressure. There's no doubt about it. It does give you opportunities to be able to be pushed to a corner and then try and respond," Ashwin said. "But I was critical too, earlier (of himself and others), because a lot of pressure has been put on me by people. I've put pressure on myself."

Ashwin's mental detachment has allowed him to clearly demarcate between his primary and secondary suits – bowling and batting. He explained that bowling and batting are distinct sports within the same game, requiring different mental approaches.

"Bowling and batting are very separate sports in the same game. One is done consciously, and the other one is done subconsciously," Ashwin said. "For me to compartmentalize both has taken its own due and at this stage, I'm able to sequence that and split both of them."

During his 189-minute innings, Ashwin maintained his focus by adopting a different mindset from his usual bowling approach. "The mind can play tricks because I'm a bowler who plays on 12-18 balls or 24 balls ahead when I'm sequencing it. But as a batter, I shouldn't do that. So, I just used my experience to focus on the ball and hitting it as I see it," he noted.

Ashwin's transformation has brought him immense personal and professional satisfaction. He expressed his happiness at being able to compete and succeed in the highly competitive world of modern sport. "You feel happy about it, having been in a contest and coming out successful out of the contest. So, yeah, the underlying truth is that it gives me a lot of happiness competing in this game," he said.

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