(Source X)
India’s second-leading Test wicket-taker, Ravichandran Ashwin, shared the story behind his famous ‘carrom ball.’ This delivery, which moves away from the right-hander with a flick of the middle finger, was originally introduced by former Sri Lankan cricketer Ajantha Mendis.
Ashwin disclosed to PTI that he first witnessed Mendis bowl this unique delivery during an age-group camp in Chennai, where he was captivated by its effectiveness against some of the world’s top batsmen.
However, mastering the delivery proved challenging for Ashwin. He shared that although he began practicing the carrom ball in 2006, it took him 3-4 years of behind-the-scenes effort to refine it to a level where he was satisfied with its performance in matches.
Ashwin said, “I started bowling those balls in the nets in 2006 or 2007 onwards, which was probably the second season for me in first-class cricket.
It took me a good two years before I implemented it in the south zone leg matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy (KS Subbaiah Pillai Trophy) in 2008. By 2010, I was probably pretty confident about the pace at which I bowled,” he added.
The experienced off-spinner continues to be a key player for the Indian Test team, though he seldom uses the carrom ball. Ashwin has come to rely more on his standard delivery and has adopted a more patient approach, which has contributed to him surpassing 500 Test wickets during the recent home series against England.
Nevertheless, Ashwin does employ the carrom ball, particularly in the Indian Premier League (IPL). There, he frequently showcases his variations and crease angles to outsmart batsmen.
Ashwin will be keen to return to Test cricket as the Indian team prepares for a two-match series against Bangladesh at home. The opening Test, taking place at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on September 19, holds special significance for him as it is in his hometown.
