Ashwin presented CEAT International Cricketer of the Year award

May 24, 2017 05:18 pm | Updated 09:46 pm IST - Mumbai

Proud moment: R. Ashwin receiving the CEAT cricketer of the year award from Sunil Gavaskar. RPG enterprises chairman Harsh Goenka looks on.

Proud moment: R. Ashwin receiving the CEAT cricketer of the year award from Sunil Gavaskar. RPG enterprises chairman Harsh Goenka looks on.

R. Ashwin was quite candid in responding to a variety of questions, especially on the nature of limited-over internationals played these days and MCC’s new rules from October.

Ashwin who had a remarkable international season — he took 99 wickets in 17 Tests and scored 699 runs with two centuries and four half-centuries — was presented the CEAT Cricket Ratings’s International Cricketer of the Year award by Sunil Gavaskar and Harsh Goenka, chairman, RPG Enterprises at the Cricket Club of India, here on Wednesday. He received a trophy and cheque for ₹5 lakh.

Punjab’s Shubman Gill was declared the CEAT Young Player of the Year for scoring 603 runs in nine games against the touring England under-19 team. He received a cash award of ₹1 lakh.

 

The off-spinner was one of the key performers in India’s 2013 ICC Champions Trophy campaign in England and Wales, taking eight wickets in five matches at 22.62, but he has played only five ODIs (two in Australia and three in India) since January 2016.

Speaking about the nature of ODIs these days, he said: “The conditions are not stacked in favour of the bowlers. I feel you have to be prepared for any challenge thrown at you and I generally expect placid wickets, and that’s the way I prepare for limited-over matches. As far as pressure is concerned, it is about handling one game at a time, and as you build up in every game, you start becoming a hot favourite.”

Rule changes

Dissecting the ODI format and his role, he said: “There has been a lot of rule changes in terms of what ICC has done to the one-day format of the game (for example use of two new balls). There is no point in actually going in with the same set of skills, time and time again and let the game change your skill.

“I might be able to throw something new into this tournament (ICC Champions Trophy) hopefully; I think I am equipped enough to do it. Hopefully the two practice games (against New Zealand and Bangladesh at The Oval, London) will indicate how well I will go into this tournament and how well my variations will come to the fore. So I am just hoping that the two practice matches would be put to good use.”

Before presenting the award, Gavaskar said: “The 22nd year of the CEAT Cricket Ratings tells the commitment the company has showed for Indian cricket. Generally sponsors look for instant recognition, but CEAT has made the hard work of Indian cricketers rewarding. A pat on the back is the biggest reward a cricketer values from his teammates in the dressing room after a good performance.”

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.