Envy Ravindra Jadeja, but glad to be myself: Ravichandran Ashwin

Hunting in pair is an often-used maxim about fast bowlers, but Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have given a new spin to it, consistently troubling the opposition in more ways than one. The latest mission by the Tango and Cash of modern Indian cricket was against Bangladesh in the ongoing first Test here when they added 199 runs for the seventh wicket to lead India to 376 all out from a wispy 144/6.

I am very happy with my bowling, the way I went through today. It’s a good opportunity to take the 300th wicket on this ground. First we have to bat very well, we have to put somewhere around 120-150 from hereon. We’ll be in a good position and then we’ll come out and bowl and try and get them out as early as possible. Ravindra Jadeja

It was a new high even for the Ashwin-Jadeja combine, who have registered three 50-plus stands together to steady the Indian ship in the past.

Ashwin did not hide his admiration for Jadeja. “I always envy him. So gifted, so talented. He’s found ways to maximise his potential. I wish I could be him, but I’m glad I am myself,” Ashwin said. “He is an exceptionally good cricketer. I think watching him bat over the last couple of years has also given me insight on how I can be better,” he added.

But when it comes to bowling, Ashwin pursues a vastly different philosophy, flummoxing batters with an endless bag of tricks. Jadeja is more real world, keeping it tight and using subtle changes in line and length to net his returns. But together they have found a way to co-exist to benefit the team and in last January the pair went past the mark of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh (501 wickets) to emerge as India’s most successful bowling combination.

“He keeps it really simple. He can repeat it day in and day out. So, both of us have grown together. Both of us have done some special things. We really value one another at this stage and both of us are enjoying each other’s success more than ever before,” Ashwin said.