Ravi Ashwin lays emphasis on adapting to saliva ban amidst COVID-19 scare

Ravi Ashwin lays emphasis on adapting to saliva ban: The premier Indian spinner has advised his teammates and counterparts to adapt to co-exist.

India and Delhi Capitals spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is primarily known for his variations and eagerness to experiment while bowling even in competitive matches.

Speaking during an Instagram live session with his Indian Premier League franchise, the 33-year old admitted being disappointed by not being able to execute the “carrom ball” in his initial days.

“It’s more about trying these variations and the disappointments you get with it. Imagine try to play carrom with your middle finger and you’re trying to push a cricket ball of that weight that cannot be compressed and you are trying to push it with velocity and trying it to spin.

“For me, when I was trying this carrom ball, I was expecting it to get it right every day. But every day despite bowling hundreds of deliveries, I will return home with disappointment of not being able to achieve what I had set out to achieve,” Ashwin was quoted as saying to Capitals on Instagram.

Ravi Ashwin lays emphasis on adapting to saliva ban

Ashwin, who last played for India during the first Test of India’s tour of New Zealand in Wellington earlier this year, laid emphasis on needing to adapt to co-exist with respect to ICC banning the use of saliva to shine a cricket ball.

With medical reports claiming that coronavirus can be spread through the saliva, the global body had to take the tough call to ensure players aren’t at risk while playing the sport.

“I don’t know [when is] the next time I go out there. It is natural for me to put saliva. It’s going to take some practise [to not apply saliva]. But I think, if we all have to co-exist, which is the DNA of human race, we will have to try and adapt to this,” Ashwin said.

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Ashwin, who would have been playing his maiden season for Capitals had it not been for the worldwide pandemic, further hinted at players engaging in restricted celebration especially after dismissing a batsman to avoid physical contact.

“If you watch those classic games of 1970 or 80s, wicket celebration was people use to stand away from each other and keep clapping, you never really had high five’s and wrist pumps. It developed much later in the game,” Ashwin added.