Ashwin considered quitting over injuries

India’s third-highest Test wicket-taker Ravichandran Ashwin says that he nearly quit several times between 2018 and 2020 due to injury and because he did not “feel backed”.
“I contemplated retirement for a lot of reasons,” the star spinner told ESPN Cricinfo.
“I felt like people were not sensitive enough to my injuries. I felt like a lot of people were backed, why not me? I have done no less.”
The 35-year-old suffered a series of injuries, including to his knee and abdomen.
“I felt I was not being able to be excellent and felt I needed a shoulder to lean on,” he said ahead of India’s first Test against South Africa on Sunday.
“It was not happening. I thought maybe I should try to find something else and be excellent at that.”
Ashwin, who needs eight more Test scalps to overtake Kapil Dev as India’s second-highest wicket-taker behind Anil Kumble, added that understanding towards injuries in Indian cricket is “pathetic”.
“One thing that will forever hurt me is that statements were made about how I didn’t want to play or how I ran away from a contest,” he said.
“You can brand me anything, you can kick me out, all that is fine, but to doubt my intent or my fight is something that deeply hurt me.”
Ashwin played a key role in India’s historic Test win in Australia early this year but was left out of India’s Test XI in the subsequent tour of England.
But under new coach Rahul Dravid, Ashwin was selected again for the recent series against New Zealand, taking eight wickets in the second match as the hosts won 1-0.
Meanwhile Test veteran Cheteshwar Pujara is confident India’s fast bowlers could deliver key performances in the visitors’  trip to South Africa where a three-Test series starts on Sunday.
“Our fast bowlers have been the difference between the two sides whenever we have played abroad,” Pujara said in an interview with ESPN Cricinfo.
“If you look at the Australia series, even if you look at the England series, we have done exceptionally well as a bowling unit and I am sure that will be the case even in South Africa. Our fast bowlers are our strength and I hope that they will be able to utilise these conditions and give us 20 wickets in every Test match.” Pujara, who has played 92 Tests, added.  
Pujara said India has arrived in South Africa well prepared for what many consider a tough tour.
“The good thing is we played a couple of Test matches in India,” Pujara said.
“So most of the guys are in touch, and when it comes to preparation, the support staff has been excellent. They have been supporting us well and we have five or six days more before we head into the first Test. I am sure there is enough time for us to prepare and guys are looking forward to this series. This is the best opportunity for us to win our first series in South Africa. So all of us are looking forward to it,” he added.