Galle: Ahead of playing his 50th Test cricket match here, Indian star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Monday recalled his 10-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in 2015 at Galle International Stadium here and said the venue brings good memories.
“I did really well last time in 2015. It is like a dream come true. It was some sort of moment of satisfaction for me because I was on the way back into the Test side. Then I got a six-for on the first day,” Ashwin told reporters.
“Then I went on to get a 10-for on the third day. It brings back a lot of good memories coming out here on the same venue,” he added.
India will encounter Sri Lanka in the first of the three Test matches here from July 26. It will be the 50th Test match of Ashwin’s career.
The 30-year-old said former Sri Lankan opener Kumar Sangakkara and South African batsman AB de Villiers are among his favourite Test wickets.
“I think getting Kumar Sangakkara at Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium (Colombo), Ab de villiers in Nagpur ... I think it was quite a helpful wicket, but the set-up was very good. I can’t really think of top of my mind, probably Shaun Marsh in Sydney in the second innings, David Warner in Bengaluru,” Ashwin said, naming some of his favourite victims.
“I have done reasonably good as a cricketer, I would say,” he added.
Ashwin also hailed recently appointed India team coach Ravi Shastri and said he creates a positive influence in the dressing room.
“We are well past that moment. The decision has been made and the decision is definitely something on which I cannot comment on. Ravi (Shastri) bhai has been fabulous person in the dressing room,” Ashwin said.
“Last time, he was here in Galle and we lost the Test and he really picked all of us from that low point on our careers, and he is someone who can have a positive influence in the dressing room. We are looking forward to working together,” he added.
India were victorious in the last Test series against Sri Lanka held in 2015 registering a 2-1 win over their subcontinent rivals.
Opening batsman Lokesh Rahul has been ruled out of in Galle with viral fever, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said. Rahul had been due to return to the Indian starting line-up after recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during the home Test series against Australia.
“There are no major health concerns and he is making rapid progress, much to the satisfaction of the medical team,” BCCI said in a statement.
“As a precautionary measure, he is advised further rest and hence will not be available for selection for the first Test match against Sri Lanka, which starts on July 26 at Galle.” Abhinav Mukund is expected to replace Rahul at the top of the batting order alongside Shikhar Dhawan.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have named uncapped left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara in their squad for the first Test. Batting all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva and paceman Nuwan Pradeep return to the 15-man squad, which is to be led by veteran spinner Rangana Herath as regular skipper Dinesh Chandimal continues his recovery from pneumonia.
Colombo hosts the second Test from August 3 while the third and final match is scheduled at Pallekele from August 12.
