Team India has already reached the Lankan island to take on Sri Lanka in the three-match Test series, which starts from 12 August at Galle.
India have a relatively young, yet powerful team that will be playing the series. As spin is one of the most important aspect of this team, Ravichandran Ashwin is raring to go against the Lankan Lions. He does not hold a good record in the overseas and this time he is desperate to change those statistics.
Out of all the wickets that he has bagged in the longer format of the game, only 25% of them were taken overseas, but the player is confident that this piece of stats will change in the forthcoming series against Sri Lanka.
"I don't really read much into accusations. If I read into the accusations, I have to sit at home. That's not what I intend to do. But for these people, where would I even take my game. They just want me to get better. If they think they can accuse me and try to put me down, that will not work. I will keep getting better every day. By the time I quit, I should be very happy with the place I am in and I want to be the best Ashwin that I can be for the Indian team," Ashwin said in an interview to DNA ahead of the Test series against Sri Lanka.
Ashwin have not performed up to his level in the island country and he will surely be tested in the hot and humid conditions there. Although, the conditions will not be a lot different from India, he will be up against world-class batsman like Kumar Sangakkara. The wickets in Sri Lanka have always aided the spinners and Ashwin is an intelligent bowler as he knows how to make use of the conditions and thus he is hopeful that he will come in handy with the red ball.
"Any team that is playing in their own backyard has a bit of advantage. They know what's going to come, what's going to happen on those wickets and how conditions pan out. We are prepared in terms of what their strengths and weaknesses are," Ashwin added.
Recently, young Pakistani leg-spinner Yasir Shah picked up 24 wickets in the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Shah troubled the Lankan batsmen throughout the tour and Ashwin will be aware of that.
"Yes, Yasir Shah picked up wickets. The wickets were seaming around. Sri Lanka had their fast bowlers picking up wickets. Every team will play according to the conditions and the strengths of the opposition. I would not be surprised if the wickets do a little bit for the seamers," Ashwin said.
