Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has claimed that he is even ready to make a payment if required to attend the New Zealand team’s meetings to understand how they plan their affairs and what plan they follow for their strong analytical preparation.
India won the first match of the ODI series against New Zealand in Vadodara. Virat Kohli’s superb innings of 93 runs, 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 in style.
India won the match, but only after a fierce battle between the two, which resulted in a four-wicket victory for the home team. However, after the victory, former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin lauded the Kiwis’ strong analytical ability.
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Ravichandran Ashwin makes massive financial offer to New Zealand team
Legendary Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin observed that New Zealand had the better tactical presence on the field and could stage a series of comebacks even though they failed to defend a 301-run target in front of the Men in Blue.
He expressed his strong desire to be part of the New Zealand dressing room to witness and understand their strategies and the way they plan things. In a moment of desperation, Ashwin also remarked that he was ready to pay any amount of money to attend these meetings.
“A lot of top teams are not very analytical. New Zealand are a very analytical team. I hope to sit with them and observe their planning; I am even willing to pay money for that if necessary. The way they execute their plans, I would pay to attend their team meetings to understand how they go about it,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin bows to New Zealand’s fighting spirit in Vadodara
On the batting front, the New Zealand openers played a strategic innings despite the absence of several of their frontline players in the series. New Zealand are without frontline batter Rachin Ravindra as well as their most experienced campaigners Kane Williamson and Tom Latham.
Some of their bowlers, like Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry and William O’Rourke, also missed the series and are currently recovering from their injuries.
“We have to give credit to New Zealand for the way they were ready to fight in the match. They didn’t stop until the end, and that’s why they were able to come back in the match. I also posted a tweet that New Zealand don’t have a lot of strength in their team, in terms of man-to-man.”
“But because of their discipline, their fielding and how well they execute their plans, they are able to fight and compete with some of the best teams,” Ashwin continued.
“India didn’t play the best cricket” – Ravichandran Ashwin
However, the Indian legend felt that the Indian team, on the contrary, did not play their A game, although they won the match. Ravichandran Ashwin said he was more impressed with New Zealand’s performance.
“The most impressive was the New Zealand team. India did not play the best of cricket. There were pockets where Harshit Rana was bowling very well and batting very well,” the former Indian cricketer said, praising the youngster he had once criticized.
“Another positive was Virat Kohli – what batting! His movement and footwork, he may have played a shot to Kristian Clarke, where he showed all three stumps. Kristian Clarke followed him, not giving him enough space to open his hands, and he ended up hitting a four with one strike,” remarked Ravichandran Ashwin.
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