Ashwin ready for West Indies’ big-hitters

PERTH: India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is all set for the challenge of facing some of the biggest hitters in the game when his side play the West Indies in a World Cup clash in Perth on Friday.
Defending champions India are top of Pool B, with three wins from as many games, but the third-placed West Indies are also in the hunt for a quarter-final place with two wins from four matches.
Gayle has long been regarded as one of the most powerful shot-makers in the game, but Ashwin said Thursday that aggressive batting was now commonplace in all one-day international cricket.
“It’s not just Chris Gayle, it’s any other batsman in world cricket. Anybody who attacks wants to put you off,” said Ashwin at Perth’s WACA ground.
“I go strongly for getting the wicket of any batsman that I think is dangerous because I like it. I like to throw myself in the middle and try to see how much I can make an impact in that particular game.
“Be it Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers anybody, I look to get them out in the middle.”
And Ashwin said he would not be changing his approach should he find himself bowling to Gayle.
“There are no particular plans. I mean, it’s pretty simple...It’s pretty much about boundaries and wickets, and you can restrict the hitting to one side and see if you can get a wicket or two.”
Amidst all the blazing hitting of this World Cup, Ashwin has so far taken eight wickets at an impressively low average of 13.37 apiece.
“I’m pleased. It is quite heartening to get wickets,” said the 28-year-old. “It gives you a lot of confidence. But in terms of preparation for the game, it’s going to be the same. Because we prepare for every other team like we prepare for the big teams.”