Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has claimed that he is even ready to make a payment if required to be part of the New Zealand team meetings to understand how they plan out their things and what plan they follow for their strong analytical build-up.
India won the first match of the ODI series against New Zealand in Vadodara. Virat Kohli’s stunning 93-run innings, combined with Shubman Gill’s half-century and Shreyas Iyer’s fighting 49 off 47, set the stage for Harshit Rana and KL Rahul to finish it off in some style.
India won the match, but only after a hard-fought battle between the two, which resulted in a four-wicket victory for the home side. However, after the win, former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has turned to praising the strong analytical build-up of the Kiwis.
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Ravichandran Ashwin makes a massive money offer to the NZ team
Legendary Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin observed that New Zealand had the best tactical presence on the field and could make a set of comebacks even though they failed to defend a 301-run target in front of the Men in Blue.
He expressed a strong desire to be part of the New Zealand dressing room to witness and understand their strategies and the way they plan things out. In a moment of desperation, Ashwin also remarked that he is ready to pay any amount of money to be part of those meetings.
“A lot of the top teams aren’t very analytically driven. New Zealand is a very analytically driven side. I hope to sit down with them and observe their planning; I am even willing to pay money for it if needed. The way they execute their plans, I would pay to sit in their team meetings to understand how they go about it,” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin bows down to New Zealand’s fighting spirit in Vadodara
In the batting department, New Zealand openers played a strategic innings despite several of their frontline players not coming into the series. New Zealand are without Rachin Ravindra, the frontline batter, and also their most experienced campaigners in Kane Williamson and Tom Latham.
Some of their bowlers, like Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry and William O’Rourke, have also missed out on the series and are currently recovering from their injuries.
“We must give credit to New Zealand for the way they were ready to fight in the game. They didn’t stop till the end, and that’s why they were able to come back into the game. I also posted a tweet that New Zealand don’t have a lot of strength in their squad, in terms of man-to-man.”
“But because of their discipline, fielding, and how they execute their plans well, they are able to fight and compete with some of the top teams,” Ashwin continued.
“India didn’t play the best of cricket” – Ravichandran Ashwin
However, the Indian legend felt that Team India, on the contrary, did not play their A game, though they won the match. Ravichandran Ashwin mentioned being more impressed by New Zealand’s performances.
“The most impressive was the New Zealand team. India didn’t play the best of cricket. There were pockets where Harshit Rana bowled really well and batted really well,” said the former Indian cricketer, praising the youngster he had once criticized.
“Another positive was Virat Kohli—what batting! His movements and footwork, he played a shot against Kristian Clarke, maybe, where he showed all three stumps. Kristian Clarke followed him, not allowing him enough space to open his hands, and he ended up hitting a four with a flick,” Ravichandran Ashwin remarked.
