Mumbai: If given the option, R Ashwin would have loved to have Ajinkya Rahane as his permanent slip fielder, highlighting their strong partnership. Together, they’ve formed one of the best bowler-fielder duos in Indian cricket history. Just like Rahul Dravid was for Anil Kumble, snagging 55 catches off the legendary leg-spinner, Rahane has been Ashwin’s go-to guy, taking the most catches—34—off his off-spin.

“Being in the slips for him has always been both a joy and a challenge. I had to stay sharp and alert every time, and I really enjoyed that. His impact on Indian cricket is huge; he’s one of our greatest match-winners. We’ve clinched so many victories for India together,” Rahane shared, noting his impressive record of 102 catches in 86 Tests. The two played 64 Tests side by side.

“To get there, I had to put in a lot of practice, especially during training. I’d work on catching with some distractions, using three or four stumps in front of me, and practicing one-handed catches while standing closer,” he added.

Rahane shared, “We had a way of communicating about what kind of ball he was going to bowl. He used sign language to get the message across.” Rahane, who set the record for the most catches in a Test match with eight during the 2015 Galle Test against Sri Lanka, recalled a standout moment.

He mentioned that his best catch off Ashwin’s bowling happened in the following match at Colombo’s P Sara Stadium. During Kumar Sangakkara’s final Test, an off-break delivery caught the edge of Sangakkara’s bat, and Rahane made an incredible one-handed catch diving to his left at slip. “I’ve really enjoyed taking some great catches off Ash, but that one off Sangakkara is definitely a highlight.”

Rahane emphasized that positioning is crucial for slip catching, and getting it right takes sharp judgment. He noted that they had a solid understanding of where to stand based on the pitch's pace and bounce. “In India, I usually stand closer and a bit wider. If the pitch is turning, I adjust my position accordingly, and if it’s not, I change it up. When playing outside India, where the pitches don’t turn as much, I tend to stand straighter and adjust the angle – it’s pretty similar in places like Australia, England, South Africa, and New Zealand.”

Their partnership really shone during the 2020-21 series in Australia, where they teamed up as captain and bowler to lead India to a fantastic victory. The standout moment was the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where Ashwin claimed five wickets and helped Rahane maintain control of the game with impressive bowling figures of 24-7-35-3 (ER 1.46) and 37.1-6-71-2 (ER 1.91) across the two innings. Together with Jasprit Bumrah, they put serious pressure on the opposing team, contributing to India's remarkable win.

"As a seasoned bowler, he knew exactly what needed to be done. It was all about giving him the freedom and importance he deserved; that was my goal. Beyond that, he handled everything perfectly... Ash's contribution was huge in that series (2020-21)."

Having watched him bowl for so long from his fielding position, Rahane has a solid grasp of Ashwin's skills. "He was really confident in his abilities, even when things weren’t going smoothly. He’d change his angles, bowl around the wicket, and get right in the batter's face."

"I'm genuinely happy for him and proud of everything he’s accomplished. We’ve created so many great memories both on and off the field."

Read Also: Today was definitely my moment: Ashwin's final stroll as an Indian player.

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