'Competition is healthy' – Ravichandran Ashwin isn't giving up on limited-overs comeback

Ashwin's last limited-overs game for India was in July 2017 against the Windies. Since then he has been sidelined from one-day internationals and Twenty20 Internationals by the wrist-spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Along with Ashwin, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, too, had endured the same fate, but recently got an opportunity back in the team during the Asia Cup 2018, and he made an immediate impact.

Ashwin heaped praise on the two wrist-spinners who have stepped up brilliantly for himself and Jadeja, but made it clear that his ambition of playing short-format cricket for India was still burning bright.

"I think it’s only about coming to terms with what has happened and what’s panned out," said Ashwin in an interview with Cricket Next. "You have got to give credit to Kuldeep and Chahal, who came in for myself and Jaddu and did really well.

"Competition is the healthiest thing. How many teams in the world actually have the luxury of sitting spinners of Jaddu and my quality outside? That’s something you need to applaud them for, for having taken their chances with both hands. But to me, it’s all about standing behind the door and waiting for the opportunity. When the opportunity presents itself, I have to be ready to take it."

Ever willing to learn more tricks to add to his arsenal, Ashwin has even picked up something from Rahman, the Afghanistan spinner who played under Ashwin for Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League 2018. The 'under-cutter' has now become a part of his weaponry.

"I have started bowling the leg-break, I have started bowling the slow carrom ball. And an under-cutter, which I learnt from Mujeeb. The reverse under-cutter, which works really well in a T20 game, that’s something I learnt from Mujeeb," he said.

Ashwin remains India's premier spin-bowling option in Test matches, and he enjoyed decent returns on tours to South Africa and England, until an injury hampered his performance midway through the England tour.

At Southampton, he was thoroughly eclipsed by England off-spinner Moeen Ali, who took nine Indian wickets in a game where Ashwin managed just three wickets in all. But Ashwin didn't read too much into that, saying he was happy with his performance.

"Overall, I thought my bowling in England was very pleasing for me. I won’t be really harsh on myself. I did bowl really well and my injury did let me down, it was quite frustrating. Having said that, it is part and parcel of the game."